RED BANK — As the end of the academic year approaches, most seventh-and eighth-graders are thinking about their transition to high school. But at Red Bank Middle School, the focus is on college and careers.

A select group of 12 seventh graders from Red Bank Middle School gathered with students from New Brunswick and Perth Amboy for the second annual Hispanics Inspiring Performance and Achievement (HISPA) Role Model Bureau 2010 Youth Conference held at Princeton University on June 11.

The conference was composed of approximately 125 seventh- and eighth- grade students from Monmouth and Middlesex counties who learned about majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics from 70 Latino professionals and members of the academic community at Princeton.

“The message that this particular organization [HISPA] wants to convey clearly is that it does take a whole village to educate a child,” said borough Schools Superintendent Laura C. Morana at a meeting with the media on June 10. “Exposing children to those careers and hearing from the practitioners, whether you’re an engineer or a scientist or whoever, they will begin shaping and molding children’s beliefs in thinking about the future.”

The teaching staff at Red Bank Middle School accompanied the 12 students to various workshops throughout the four-hour day. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) session focused on how each academic field applies to modern technology that people use every day, like iPhone applications.

Students interested in careers in finance could try out the junior achievement accounting workshop. Others interested in biology and engineering could opt to attend the endovascular intervention session, where each attendee observed how tiny instruments are used to operate on blood vessels.

Several students were encouraged to “reach for the stars” at the university’s NASA workshop to learn about career opportunities in space exploration.

Throughout the day, motivational speakers and role models from the HISPA community told prospective students that college is an attainable goal, not just a dream.

“One of HISPA’s key strategies is to support existing educational programs in which at least half of the students are Hispanic, and it also partners with existing organizations that have mentoring programs,” said Ivette Mendez, spokeswoman for HISPA and president of iMendez & Co., in an interview. “Red Bank has enthusiastically embraced HISPA’s mission for two years, and we’re very excited their students are taking part in the youth conference.”

Last year, eighth-grade students at Red Bank Middle School attended the first annual HISPA Youth Conference. The event aligns closely with Morana’s belief that college preparation starts at a young age.

“College planning does not begin at the 11th-grade level,” Morana said. “It really begins in prekindergarten.”

The university also offered a workshop for middle school students on the college admissions process and financial aid.

“If you feel college education is just something that would be an obstacle, there is financial aid,” Morana said on June 10. “They will take the students through the formal … college admissions process. This is pretty much in line with the work that we have been doing at the middle school to once again instill within each and every one of our children that college is an option that they have, and should consider seriously.”

At the conference, the mentors shared their personal experiences to inspire students to work hard, earn their degree and pursue their career goals.

“By listening to these stories, they [students] begin thinking, ‘Do we have any dreams? Do we have any goals?’ ” Morana said. “If they are very ambitious, they may very well become a reality, so it is OK to dream, and dream big.”

This year, the morning guest speaker was scheduled to be Dr. Alicia Abella, executive director of Innovative Services Research at AT&T Labs, who was recently named one of the Top Five 2010 Women of the Year by Hispanic Business Magazine.

“When you speak with her [Abella], she’s lovely, down-to-earth and an amazing person,” Morana said. “To be recognized in such an incredible way, I’m just going to be honored to be in her company.”

The keynote speaker was Dr. Marta Tienda, professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University.

Morana said the boys and girls attending the event were selected by their teachers, but also expressed an interest in science, mathematics and technology fields.

“They have not only been recommended by their teachers, but they also have chosen and want to be there,” Morana said. “They [Princeton University] are a big partner in this process, and I am delighted that we will be there.”

HISPA, a nonprofit organization, was established in 1984. For more information, visit http://www.hispa.org/.