A group of Sandys Secondary Middle School students leave for a college tour in Atlanta this weekend to gain “a greater appreciation” for higher learning.The all-male contingent of 38 students were “adopted” two years ago as part of a mentoring project embraced by Sandys 360 staff.The programme was developed in response to concerns raised in the Mincy Report, a 2009 account of Bermuda’s black male population.Sandys Secondary intends to track the students as they make their way through college, providing any necessary support to keep them focused.Students enrolled in the Scholar Athlete Arts Leadership Academy must follow mandatory guidelines and participate in arts or sports in the mentoring programme.This weekend’s trip was sponsored by Lancashire Insurance Company.Elaine Whelan, CEO of Lancashire said: “The foundation recognises that ensuring education is appropriately sponsored is a major part of Bermuda’s future success and stability.“The international business sector is also an obvious beneficiary of this. By assisting youngsters in looking forward, by supporting initiatives such as the Sandys 360, it’s not just the students and their families that benefit, but Bermuda as a whole.”Added Sandys 360 managing director Melvyn Bassett: “Lancashire came alongside the initiative last year, supporting the young men by underwriting the quarterly hotel lunches, and hosting the students for discussions in their new and attractive headquarters in Hamilton.“The boys had the opportunity to interact with many of the Lancashire personnel and managerial staff, helping them to gain an appreciation for the examples of the wide and varied employment options available in the international business sector.“Partners, Lancashire Insurance, have demonstrated their commitment to this initiative by underwriting the cost of the air travel, enabling 98 percent of the students to be able to participate, with parents paying the balance for room and board for the six-day tour.”Thirty-four of the 38 students leave for Atlanta tomorrow, where they will visit Morehouse College, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.The tour is designed to provide the students with opportunities to interact with college students and officials.Dr Bassett said: “The programme mentors believe this will assist them in gaining a greater appreciation for the value and importance of a tertiary level of education, appropriate planning at an early stage even at their current M3 level, and in addition, the importance of applying themselves fully at the senior school level that they will begin next year.”School principal Timothy Jackson was enthusiastic about the tour.“We are sending a clear and powerful message to our young men, and that is ‘we believe in you and want the very best for you’,” Dr Jackson said.He added that the school’s efforts were all directly related to its mission statement:Sandys Secondary Middle School is committed to providing quality education that develops critical thinkers who become responsible citizens contributing positively in an ever changing local and global society.SAAL is also supported by the Western Economic Empowerment Zone, Mirrors, Passports to College and Cambridge Beaches Hotel.