ALAMOSA — Benita Mondragon of Alamosa was one of 26 high school students selected to participate in the 2008 Frontiers of Science Institute from June 8-July 18 at the University of Northern Colorado.

Mondragon attends Alamosa High School and is being sponsored by the Adolph Coors Foundation.

FSI gives high school juniors and seniors with an aptitude for science a chance to live and study in a university setting each summer. Students are immersed in a curriculum that includes engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental, earth and space sciences. Those who complete the six-week program are eligible for a scholarship to attend UNC.

Field trips, seminars by academic and industry professionals, mentored research, and classroom and laboratory work give students insight into science, technology and related careers.

Visits are planned to the Black Hills of South Dakota, Anheuser-Busch, Johns Manville, Colorado State University Luger Laboratory & Biocontainment Lab Facility, Swift Ponds, Colorado School of Mines Biosensor and Robotics Labs, Pawnee Buttes and National Jewish Center.

By completing a scientific research project with faculty mentors, students learn about experimental design, data collection and drawing conclusions.

Each student must write a scientific paper, design a poster for display and conduct a formal presentation to discuss research findings. Projects will be displayed at an open house from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17, in the Longs Peak Ballroom of the University Center, intersection of 11th Avenue and 20th Street. More than 1,500 science-oriented students from more than 250 Colorado communities have participated in FSI since its inception in 1959. All geographic areas in the state have been represented.