The Hampton Bays School District has forged a new partnership with Stony Brook University through the Future Scholars Program, an initiative designed to help students, starting in middle school, prepare for success in higher education.

The program identifies students who show strong academic potential and provides them with mentorship opportunities from grades eight through 12 to help them become college ready. The 21 eighth grade students who are currently enrolled in the program will receive academic, career and financial counseling, as well as personalized assistance with college applications, through their senior year. The goal is to increase the number of potentially first-generation college students to apply and enroll in higher education.

Already, students have visited the Stony Brook campus three times, with an additional three visits scheduled for the spring. They participated in daylong sessions that incorporated team-building activities, mentoring, study skills, time management and academic writing. They also attended a Stony Book University football game.