The students were all part of the Dream Project, a high school outreach program that is also a UW course. Its mission is to assist first-generation college applicants or low-income students in the college admission process, but the program also aims to teach UW students about social issues and provide practical experience helping others.

Friday's events were the kickoff for the high school students. Arriving early in the morning, the dream scholars, as the high-schoolers are known in the program, toured campus with UW student guides and sat in on a lecture.

After an educational morning, the barbecue was a highlight for many. Seated at long tables, students met with their peers from other high schools while eating hamburgers and hot dogs.

There was a short movie shown, featuring interviews with the six "Live the Dream" scholarship recipients. The scholarships, each for $1,000, were presented to the students at a special ceremony in April. They were given to high school students from last year's course; nominations were based on leadership and overcoming adversity, among other criteria.

"[The Dream Project] was a life-altering experience for me," said Grant Twitchell, a UW senior enrolled in the class.

The course helps build personal relationships between students and demonstrates that they have "a community in waiting" at the UW, Twitchell said.

This phrase is used by several people in the Dream Project, emphasizing the importance of feeling welcome at the University. Besides economic obstacles and difficulties in the application process, being a first- generation college student can be a hindrance in itself.

"It is, in part, fear of the unknown," said Stan Chernicoff, faculty supervisor of the project.

Some of the scholarship recipients were present at the barbecue. Joshua McLeod from Foster High School will be attending the UW next year. He said he especially appreciated the help Dream Scholar mentors offered writing his personal essay.

"[It's difficult] to figure out how to put yourself on that paper," he said.

Oscar Castro Jr., a dream scholar from Chief Sealth High School, said he appreciated the chance to meet new people at the barbecue. Castro also plans to attend the UW in the fall.

The Dream Project is a student-initiated course created by UW senior Alula Asfaw.

"Coming from a similar background, I know that there are a lot of capable students out there with the grades, drive and intellectual capacity to be successful," Asfaw said.

Starting out last year with 11 UW students and about 60 students from three King County high schools, the project has now grown to a class of 56 students from the UW and almost 300 from six high schools.

The UW course meets two times a week — one day at the UW and one at area high schools. During the UW session, students learn how to fill out applications or find scholarships, but they also learn about issues of social mobility and educational opportunity.

During the other weekly meeting, students go to the high school to assist, guide and spent time with the dream scholars.

Both Chernicoff and Asfaw emphasized the benefits of the diversity of the UW students as well as the dual focus of the class. The variations in background and fields of study help break down barriers between UW students, they said. At the same time, the course is a valuable resource for high schoolers.

"These are students that, under different circumstances, might never have even applied," said Chernicoff. "That's the real success."

Reach reporter Clara Good at news@thedaily.washington.edu.