When Kevin Smith woke up yesterday, he didn't know that he'd lead a group of eighth graders around campus.

Smith, the president-elect of historically black fraternity Phi Beta Sigma, had been talking with faculty from Hamilton School, an inner-city school in Harrisburg, about teaching their students about Penn State and college life. However, he didn't know that May 2 was going to be the date.

"I've been working with the kids for about six months," Smith (senior-biobehavioral health) said. "I called last week, but there was no reply until 9 a.m. [yesterday], saying we're on a bus and coming up."

Smith said enough organizations were able to come together with short notice and educate students about higher education.

Phi Beta Sigma and sister sorority Zeta Phi Beta hosted 38 eighth graders from the Hamilton. The students toured the campus, had lunch in Johnston Commons, played basketball and learned about the opportunities that come from attending college.

"Going to college can help you move onto a life that you really feel is best for you," said Kwatei Hector, an eighth grader at Hamilton who hopes to major in art one day. "Finish school so you can live your dreams.

Hamilton School faculty said the trip was very important for their students. "They don't always have the opportunity to see young adults who are minorities," Hamilton School guidance counselor Anna Smith said. "When they see young minorities in college they see that they can be a doctor, accountant or anything. They see that there's a purpose for college and they can achieve that."

Anna Smith said the Harrisburg School District has not met state education criteria for several years, which is why trips like yesterday's are so important.

"They see the connection between high school and college so they see why you have to do well in high school," she said.

Penn State students who were helping with the day echoed her sentiment. "They get a general sense of why it's important to do well in high school," said Britney Waller (freshman-division of undergraduate studies), who helped show the students around.

Aristides Nova (senior-computer engineering), Kevin Smith's friend, said that the day was very successful. "As long as you're able to talk to one person and change one person, it's a good deed done," he said.