CARBONDALE, Colorado — While many high school students in the Roaring Fork Valley enjoy a break from their academic pursuits during the summer, 43 students have come from 12 states to study accelerated math, science and English at Colorado Rocky Mountain School.

High School High Scholar is a national enrichment program for minority students, called (HS)2 for short. The 43 (HS)2 students graduated on Friday. If they follow the students who attended two earlier (HS)2 sessions at the school, they will all be accepted into college.

“For me, being in (HS)2 means having a brighter future and having my dreams of success come true,” said Erin Yellow Hair, a high school senior from Rapid City, N.D. “(HS)2 has given me the confidence to apply to some of the top colleges in the country.”

The (HS)2 program at Colorado Rocky Mountain School is based on (MS)2, or Mathematics and Science for Minority Students, a summer program at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., developed by Mollie and Gar Lasater in 1977.

(MS)2 was designed in response to the evidence that a strong background in mathematics and science gained during high school enables a young person to prepare successfully for a career in a mathematics- or science-based profession.

Graduates of the (HS)2 program are better prepared to take on advanced studies and careers in engineering, sciences, mathematics, medicine and computer science. The rigor and relevance of the courses are designed to help the (HS)2 scholar become more self-reliant and self-sufficient as a student and member of the community.

“This program has given me the confidence to believe in myself that I can succeed in college,” said Luis Valle, a high school senior from Dallas.

“(HS)2 has given me a chance to learn from diverse people who have the same goals and desires,” said Diana Vasquez, another high school senior from Dallas.

Tuition, room, board and textbooks for (HS)2 students are paid for by the program. Admission is selective and based on scholastic achievement, academic and leadership potential, interest in mathematics and science, personal recommendations of high school teachers and financial need.

To learn more about (HS)2, contact Lisa Raleigh, CRMS director of advancement, at 963-2562 or lraleigh@crms.org.