The participants are from Shady Spring and Liberty High Schools.

They met today at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

College Summit works to improve drop out rates and promote college awareness.

It involves all Raleigh County high school seniors, but this is a pilot program focusing on 9th, 10th and 11th grades at Liberty and Shady Spring.

Organizers say kids typically learn more from other kids.

"We know that parents and teachers influence students but not in the strong way that peers influence students and so we're looking at having 12th grade students influence 9th grade students to not only stay in school but to do well and prepare for a productive future," said John Charles, College Summit Program Director.

College Summit representatives say most students who decide to drop out, do so in the 9th and 10th grades.

By working through this program, organizers are hoping to alleviate that problem.