About HSTA
	The Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) of West Virginia University is an 8th-12th grade math and science program which encourages aspirations, opens doors, and empowers minority and disadvantaged students and rural communities. This partnership among the numerous units of the State's land grant university and many Appalachian communities brings minority and disadvantaged students, as well as teachers, to campus each summer for clinic, laboratory, and classroom training and enrichment activities, then provides the infrastructure and support for community-based science projects mentored by teachers and volunteers duering the school year. Motivated students in grades 8-12 will participate in the program, recieving prepparation and encouragement for embarking on careers in the health professions or related areas of science and technology. These students are also assisted with applications to colleges and universities so that they can pursue their chosen careers. The program aims to accomplish several important goals: To share the resources and talent of higher education; To encourage public school teachers' and community leaders' mentoring of students; To increase the college-going rate among minority and disadvantaged students in the Appalachian region; To improve science and math education; and ultimately To increase the number of health care providers in our currently under-served rural communities. The program has already recieved national recognition with full support from President Hardesty, Senator Rockafeller and the West Virgina cogressional delegation. Preliminary results idicate tthat virtually all of the participating students and teachers feel that HSTA is both an effective and enjoyable program. It is anticipated that many HSTA program graduates will pursue higher education leading to careers in the health sciences, and that they will return to their communities to provide the health care and the leadership so badly needed in rural Appalachia.