Channon Peoples, the executive director of the University of Missouri–St. Louis‘ Bridge Program, kicks off the 40th year of the Bridge Program during an event last Tuesday in the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Hundreds of local high school students participate every year in the Bridge Program, which helps guide them through the process of making informed college choices since its inception in 1986. Contributions from community partners have helped make that possible.

A total of 470 high school students in grades 9-12 took part in the program last year, and on two Saturdays each month, they showed up to receive extra instruction in mathematics, science and written and oral communication as well as career research, personal and professional development and college planning.

This photograph was taken by UMSL photographer Derik Holtmann and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL. View more UMSL photos by visiting the UMSL Flickr and Instagram accounts.