TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- A select group of 19 high school students from across the state recently completed the 2006 Rural Science Scholars Program at The University of Alabama.

The summer program sponsored by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Science Education Program Grant, introduces rural students to the college experience and encourages them to train for professions in teaching, pharmacy, health and technology with the goal of returning to rural areas as professionals.

The students live on the UA campus for five weeks in the summer prior to their senior year in high school. They are chosen for the program based on their academic achievement and interest in rural health care; they take two courses for college credit and attend seminars at UA.

This summer’s students and their home counties included:

(Shown with the students in the photographs are L-R Cynthia Moore, assistant director, UA Rural Scholars Program, and Dr. Martha Powell, chair of UA Biological Sciences.)

Autauga County: Thomas Macher	Cherokee County: Terry Manley Jr.
Chilton County: Caleb Moxley	Coffee County: Alicia Brownell
Covington County: Maile Floyd	Cullman County: Rob Clemmons
Dale County: Deahndra Grigley	Dekalb County: Thomas McLemore
Elmore County: Anthony Biachani	Geneva County: Paige Broxton
Geneva County: Brytni Creech	Limestone County: Laura Mould
Lowndes County: Frank Lapote	Marengo County: Ebony Craig
Monroe County: Stephanie Cunningham	Sumter Country: Sarah Cole
Talladega County: Tiffany Nelson	Tuscaloosa County: Jonathan Guin
Washington County: Alex Lee