LaQuisha Session of Cape Girardeau spent much of this summer getting a head start on her future.

Ten students in the Minority High School Student Research Apprentice program and two in the new Student Training and Research program took their first steps toward medical school at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine.

Participants in the six-week apprentice program, now in its 14th year, worked on a project that emphasized laboratory research and took classes while paired with a scientist or physician mentor. Students spent at least three full days a week in a laboratory with their preceptors.

The program also prepared students for the ACT program. In addition, students lived in campus residence halls, which provided a good introduction to college life.

The selection process looked at the applicants' grade-point average, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and essays. The participants, all of whom must be Missouri residents, were chosen from 53 qualified applicants. Each received a stipend for his or her participation.

Session, the daughter of Ruby D. Session, is a senior at Cape Central High School. Her research topic was ophthalmology.