When it comes to thinking about attending college, MSU's King-Chavez-Parks College Day programs encourage underrepresented kids to start planning early.

The program held one of its monthly "Rising Star," college-exposure workshops Saturday for students in sixth through 12th grades.

"You've got to have role models and mentors, people who can tell you how to get from A to Z," Program Director Pam Bellamy said.

MSU's program is part of the larger King-Chavez-Parks Initiative passed by the Michigan Legislature in 1986. In Michigan, 15 public universities participate and focus on increasing the representation of underrepresented students.

"We are about 90 percent successful in getting our students to participate in post-secondary education," Bellamy said.

MSU students at the workshop led the middle and high school students through games, discussions and role-playing revolving around types of discrimination.

One game had students tape playing cards on their backs to represent their social status. Students with higher numbers were considered to be of a higher class.

"I had a "four," but I felt like a "two," said 11th-grader Stephanie Carr from Detroit. "People would look at my back and then they left."

Carr said that she has been attending program workshops since she was in sixth grade.

"It prepares you socially," she said. "It shows that college isn't a scary place; it's fun."

In addition to the workshops, participants heard presentations by Dawn Hammond, MSU's assistant director of Academic Student Affairs, and Jeff Judge, James Madison College director of admissions.

Judge discussed the Brown v. Board of Education decision, reasons to go to college and career opportunities in the social sciences.

Telecommunication, information studies and media junior Kerrhon Kelso said he remembers what it is like to be in the participants' shoes.

"I was from one of those neighborhoods; many people didn't think you'd make it out," he said, adding his experience with the program made him want to attend MSU.

The Saturday workshops only are part of what the program offers.

In addition, there is an outreach component that travels to schools and a summer residency program that allows students to experience college life for a weekend.

The state of Michigan funds the programs, but MSU also provides matching funds.

During the past year, the program received $239,000 from the state, and it was matched equally by MSU.