Michael Haywood, director of minority programs and undergraduate recruitment at the College of Business and Administration, said Inroads is an opportunity for professional and career development in students.

Inroads is a national organization designed to develop and prepare talented minority students to take on leadership positions in the community and in business, Hay-wood said.

He said the program is designed for high school students as well as college students who have a 3.0 grade point average.

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Inroads provides professional opportunities to 5,000 high school and college students nationwide and serves its college students by providing internships with local corporations which involve their career interests.

Internships range from $8 to $12 an hour, and are offered over any school break, Haywood said.

Inroads was founded in 1970 by Princeton University graduate Frank Carr to aid the advancement of minority students.

The program is funded by corporate sponsorships and grants with 41 affiliates in various cities nationwide who work with the students, he said.

Inroads identifies talented min-ority individuals for the participating corporations, and it helps students to get their foot in the door, Haywood said.

Felicia Banks, a senior in accoun-ting from Tamms, has been in the program for two years and has re-ceived a job offer from Ernst & Young, one of the largest accounting firms in America and the place where she interned.

Inroads is a splendid program simply because it allows minorities an opportunity to work in corporate America at a very young age, Banks said.

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Latasha Randle is the student representative of Inroads Chicago on the SIUC campus.

The benefits of Inroads far outweigh the sacrifices, and create well-rounded individuals, said the junior in management/marketing from Chicago.

The professional and personal contacts allow for good networking.

Currently there are 17 participants in the program, but Haywood would like to have around 39 students from various majors to become involved.

There will be a presentation giv-en by Inroads staff specialist Fend-ley Douge at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Activity Rooms C & D of the Stu-dent Center.

Students interested in the Inroads program should contact Haywood at 453-7498.