Wesley Childers knows what he wants to do after he graduates.

And with the help of a special program designed for rising juniors and seniors in highs chool, he may get what he wants.

“I want to take metallurical engineering as a minor with a major in electrical engineering as well,” he said.

Wesley was one of 40 students chosen to attend a summer engineering camp sponsored by the University of Alabama.

According to a news release, the Student Introduction to Engineering program (SITE) exposes the students to campus life outside the classroom where they enjoy special activities and explore opportunities the campus has to offer.

According to Wesley’s mother Faye, her son has always been interested in engineering and building design.

And Wesley adds that he’s been thinking about electrical engineering since 8th grade.

“Jack Watts from the science department at Spanish Fort High School has been a mentor for Wesley and helped him get started in pursuing a college and organizing his study skills,” she said. “His teachers and the principal at Spanish Fort High have been wonderful.”

Wesley, a rising senior at SFHS, has always wanted to attend the university.

It was during “University Days”, where prospective university students explore the campus, when Wesley and his parents met an engineering professor who spoke about the camp and urged him to apply, his mother said.

To begin the process, Wesley submitted an application, garnered letters of recommendations from teachers and forwarded his transcripts and grades to Greg Singleton, head of the project.

“I think he will be able to pursue a career in engineering and he will have a fulfilling future,” Faye Childers said of her son.

Once Wesley was selected to participate in the program they sent in his fee, which paid for his housing at the six-day camp.

With engineering classes at the top of the schedule, Wesley also took courses in math, English and science.

Wesley said the students, who were mainly from Alabama with the exception of one student who was from Central America, took tours and were introduced to each engineering program offered at the university.

Wesley’s parents are “beaming and very thankful to have such a wonderful son.”

“He is very determined to set his goals and usually reaches them. He has very strong morals and principles that he lives by, thanks to his friends, family, church, Boy Scouts and Spanish Fort High,” Faye Childers said.

Wesley is also the drum major at Spanish Fort High School, has completed his Eagle project for the Boy Scouts and is active in his church.

“I highly encourage [other students] to go to this camp,” he said, mainly for students considering an engineering program.