More than 100 high school students from around the region are getting a taste of college life in two educational enrichment programs at Berea College that began June 15.

Forty-five students from southern Appalachia are attending the Carter G. Woodson Math and Science Institute, while 66 students from eight eastern Kentucky counties are taking part in Upward Bound. The six-week-long residential programs aimed at helping low income, high potential students prepare for college will continue through July 26.

Woodson Institute students are taking courses in mathematics and the sciences along with choices from a special curriculum of more than 30 courses that include woodworking, printmaking, desktop publishing, creative writing, Spanish, chemistry, ethics and computer building. Students in the Upward Bound program are studying aesthetics, human relations and technology as their core curriculum, and also are enrolled in the additional special courses.

Along with academic enrichment, students in both groups will be involved in activities designed to help them define their values, explore career options and prepare and plan for attending college. A wide range of recreational activities and field trips rounds out the program.

All participants are experiencing the full range of College life, including living in residence halls, eating meals on campus and using all facilities and activities available to regular Berea College students. The Woodson Institute is a newly designed program being offered for the first time this summer. Two separate College programs -- The Carter G. Woodson Science Focus enrichment program for gifted African-American students and an Upward Bound Science and Math program -- were combined to form the new program. "Combining these two programs has made it possible to increase the number of classes, staff and activities available for all of the students, and creates a more diverse group overall." according to program administrator Mary McLaughlin.

"The Science Focus program was previously only a four-week summer program, and now students will have the opportunity to participate throughout high school, year-round." Upward Bound began on the Berea campus in 1966 as Project Torchlight, a program for academic and personal development and to prepare low income, at-risk high school-age Appalachian students for college. The Woodson Institute and Upward Bound are just two of the special programs taking place on Berea's campus this summer. Through June 24, 14 participants in the New Opportunity School for Women will be on campus (contact 985-3854). Other programs are: June 19-23, GEAR-UP program for 30 seventh-graders from Rockcastle County Middle School (contact Andy Beichler at 985- 3553); July 1-31, Educational Talent Search (contact Darla Phillips at 985-3271); July 12-15 and July 17-20, Prime Time Basketball Camps for girls with Coach Greg Todd (contact 985-3854), and June 23-24 and July 7-8, Pre-College Registration and Orientation Weekends (ROW) for new freshmen (contact 985-3208). For additional information about the Woodson Institute or Upward Bound, contact Mary McLaughlin at the TRIO office, 859-985-3270.