November 14, 2008

A group of middle school students from Buford experience a day in the life of a college student at the University of Virginia.

A co-ed service fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi, took the kids on a tour of the Rotunda, after spending time on the Lawn.

About twenty fraternity members volunteered to mentor the students.

The hope is that local students will learn about UVA so they'll look forward to college.

"We just want them to get an idea of what it would be like to go to college and get them excited about the prospect," said Therese Verkerke, the Service Chair of Phi Sigma Pi. "Because we want them to start thinking early about it, and I think it could really help them in their studies."

Students also did some chemistry experiments to get a sense of the classroom.

Since it began, over 3,000 local kids have been mentored by UVA students in the "Day in the Life" Program.