Betsy Ennis Dulin, dean and professor of engineering at the College of Information Technology and Engineering at Marshall University, talks with freshmen at Huntington High School on Thursday, March 12, 2009, during an assembly to help kick off the State Scholars Initiative. The State Scholars Initiative, which begins in Cabell County this school year, will bring business and community leaders into eighth- and ninth-grade classrooms to encourage students to complete a more rigorous course of math, science and foreign language study during their high school careers. .

Carrie Cline of WSAZ NewsChannel 3 talks with freshmen at Huntington High School Thursday, March 12, 2009, during an assembly to help kick off the State Scholars Initiative.

Marshall University senior Gregory Sammons talks about his project on stem-cell research with Rob Jones, a lobbyist who was at the Capitol Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Carey Sadowski, State Scholars Program director, talks with freshmen at Huntington High School on Thursday during an assembly to help kick off the program. The State Scholars Initiative, which begins in Cabell County this school year, will bring business and community leaders into eighth- and ninth-grade classrooms to encourage students to complete a more rigorous course of math, science and foreign language study during their high school careers.

Cabell County Superintendent William Smith talks during an assembly to help kick off the State Scholars Initiative at Huntington High School Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Cabell County Superintendent William Smith is applauded during an assembly to help kick off the State Scholars Initiative at Huntington High School Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Freshmen attend an assembly to help kick off The State Scholars Initiative at Huntington High School Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Carey Sadowski, State Scholars Program director, hands out free iPods to three of the four lucky students who won them during an assembly to help kick off the State Scholars Initiative at Huntington High School Thursday, March 12, 2009.