More than 600 high school students have visited Texas A&M's campus this summer and more than 200 more will pass through as a part of the Summer Honors Invitational Program.
Aimed at recruiting the nation's best and brightest for matriculation at A&M, the two-day program orients prospective applicants on A&M's honors program, traditions and academics.
Dr. Edward Funkhouser, SHIP director, is also the executive director of the honors program. He says the summer program is a year-round effort.
"We start recruiting in February or March all across the United States on the basis of achievement," Funkhouser said. "We look for those who have done well on the PSAT, because they have the potential to be National Merit finalists. We aim for the top 5 percent of those kids."
Funkhouser said that about half of those who participate in the program and 25 to 40 percent of those who are National Merit finalists apply here at A&M.
"For honors students, A&M is not usually a place they consider applying. But if we can bring them to campus the Aggie family leaves a good impression," Funkhouser said.
The program relies heavily on the contributions of undergraduate volunteers, such as senior accounting major Emily Semlau. She is in her second summer with the program.
"I had a friend on campus who recommended I get into this," Semlau said. "I enjoyed it so much I decided to be on the Honors Invitational Program council so I could work on it all year long instead of just summers."
Semlau said she enjoys showing high school students what A&M has to offer and what she likes about being a student here. That isn't the most rewarding part of her experience, though, she said.
"I most enjoy getting to interact with these high schoolers," Semlau said. "Knowing that I have a tiny role in planning their future and where they go to college."
The program is aimed at high school seniors such as Joel Woodward, 18, of Trinity Christian High School in Lubbock.
"This program showed me a lot I didn't know about (A&M) firsthand," Woodward said. "It has helped me decipher what others have told me."
Woodward, who was born and bred a Red Raider, says he is having second thoughts about his college plans.
Woodward said he will definitely apply to A&M, and if accepted, plans to participate in Aggie Men's Club, Breakaway and the Honors program.
High school seniors, though, aren't the only ones who get to participate.
Joanna Kelley, 16, is a student at Grace Prep Academy in Arlington, where she ranks 15th in her class with a 4.0 GPA.
Her family ties drew her to Texas Tech, but she said, "I was amazed by the spirit and tradition here and how much everyone likes this school."
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