This is the first year the Harris camps have been expanded to a national level. For more than 10 years the summer offerings were held at the University of Houston and SWOSU. OU was among the more than 30 universities to submit a request to host a camp. Harris said the selection process was in-depth and thorough.

"We put together a selection committee," Harris explained. "We started out with a big list of schools and sent out requests for proposals."

With proposals in hand, the committee identified institutions that had demonstrated a commitment to youth and education. It also increased the number of students Harris could reach from 80 to more than 1,000.

"We are really pretty excited about starting this summer," Harris said.

When the students arrive at OU they will be plugged into a college atmosphere. Harris said the two weeks would be packed with hands-on experiments, lectures, site visits and guest speakers.

"We combine secondary students with university professors and students," Harris said of the curriculum. "It exposes them to what they can expect when they get to college."

Harris' kids won't be the only students gaining real world experience this summer in Norman. OU also is the site for the fourth annual Summer Journalism Workshop of the Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism. Much like the Harris camps, the workshop, June 17-29, seeks to provide opportunities for students who may not have access to educational pursuits.

More than 20 career-minded Oklahoma high school juniors and seniors will pound the pavement of Norman "scaring up some news."

"They will be doing real world stories and assignments," said OIDJ Director Ray Ch?vez. "The will be making contacts, conducting interviews ... anything journalism related, we are going to do that."

When they aren't taking notes or asking questions, the young reporters will assemble a newspaper, create broadcast material and produce a documentary. They also will visit newsrooms, television stations and interact with industry professionals.

Ch?vez said it was important give the students a sample of all aspects of journalism as it could lead to a career in journalism or mass communications. It also could help newsrooms mirror their coverage areas.

"Although the number of minority journalists has improved," Ch?vez said, "it does not reflect the communities newspapers cover."

And when that last story is filed and it's time to go home, the students will leave with more than they came with.

"We want to expose them to some good role models and establish a pretty good network of contacts for them," Ch?vez said.

Tony Pennington 366-3541 tpennington@normantranscript.com