Reduced tuition is first come first serve, so money doesn't prevent a student from taking a class. The curriculum is made up of approximately 50 percent humanities and 50 percent math and science. When the program first came into being, founders discovered they were serving a 60 percent Caucasian population and sought to diversify. It now serves all minority groups. The program allows students to mentor with professionals for eight weeks in the summer.
Mentors come from business, agencies and universities.
Students do research in engineering, behavioral science, geology, computer engineering and other fields. They present their work at a summer conference and an August symposium. In the microbiology class, students use a microscope to examine prepared cultures of bacteria and learn to identify them. The valuable lab skills gained are then used for a research project conducting an experiment and discussing findings with the class. Prominent Japanese American, the late Bill Naito, contributed funds to this class, Ms. Fox said.