The training and mentoring of high school students by Dr. Leszczynski’s group started in 2013. This formal program consists of a four-week Summer Institute for 20–30 participants on the JSU campus. The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps  (JROTC) students from metropolitan Jackson high schools serve as our target group. The mentoring is extended to the subsequent Fall and Spring semesters, following their summer training. Participants return to their respective high schools and meet with the JSU team every  Saturday for 6 weeks for approximately 2 hours at their own campuses to have their progress reviewed and new tasks assigned. The participants learn the fundamentals of mathematics, chemistry, and physics and apply the knowledge to carry out research related to computational chemistry. In addition to oral presentations at the end of the Summer Institute, the students have an additional few months period to complete the projects and present a poster during the annual CCTCC conference in the fall.