ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University is hosting about 40 Columbus high school students as part of Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) of Columbus' Summer Institute.

The Summer Institute, which began on June 17 and ends June 29, is designed to give students the necessary skills to complete high school, while providing them with an academically enriched residential experience. It also attempts to encourage talented, but low-achieving students to attain a college degree.

Daily activities in the two-week residential program include seminars, research projects, leadership training, study groups, exercise time and a variety of extracurricular activities.

The Summer Institute is a component of Project GRAD of Columbus, a non-profit organization with the mission of preparing students to enter and graduate from college by implementing a strong curriculum in the areas of reading, math and science.

Project GRAD of Columbus, which has more than 5,500 participants, hopes to improve the participants' standardized test scores, high school and college graduation rates and retention and attendance rates, while decreasing their disciplinary referrals.

As incentive to pursue a degree in higher education, Project GRAD offers college scholarships worth up to $1,000 annually to its high school graduates who meet the established criteria.

"This is a great opportunity for these inner-city students to experience Ohio University, probably for the first time," said Special Assistant to the President Erek Perry. "Project GRAD is a great program that is not only preparing underrepresented students for college, but also working to increase diversity in higher education. Since Ohio University is extremely committed to improving its diversity, a partnership with Project GRAD is a natural fit."