Ninth grade students at Biloxi High School will have a chance to experience college life this summer in a special Summer Academy offered for free by GearUP.

Students will be able to spend more than a week at one of six Mississippi locations, where they will live in campus dorms, eat in the university's cafeteria and learn about college experiences and traditions at each university.

The participating institutions are Alcorn State University, East Central Community College, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Valley State, the University of Southern Mississippi, or the University of Mississippi.

Students also will receive information on admissions and financial aid, along with an understanding of course requirements for career aspiration.

Interested parents or students can get an application from Jeff Campbell, who can be found in Room 236 at Biloxi High School or reached by email at Jeff.Campbell@biloxischools.net .

The application deadline is Feb. 28.