On any given day, the campus of California State University, Stanislaus is flooded with students.

But on Wednesday, many of the students were a little younger than usual.

That’s because the university’s student outreach program, in cooperation with the Achievement Via Individual Determination program, was hosting a forum for over 200 middle school students.

“College: Making it Happen” is a program that teaches the youngsters how to prepare for college academically and financially.

Representatives from area colleges including CSUS, Modesto Junior College, Fresno Pacific University and University of California, Merced were on hand to answer questions from the students.

Speakers like CSUS Admissions Counselor Carolina Gutierrez shared anecdotes with the students about the importance of education.

Gutierrez said the AVID program, now in its ninth year at CSUS, does wonderful things.

“It promotes higher education and prepares students to think academically and focus on their studies,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez was one of the event’s first organizers, and said it’s gotten a “great response.”

“I’ve seen it grow,” Gutierrez said.

According to Gutierrez, some of the students she first met nine years ago have since enrolled at CSUS.

“Some of them come back here and recognize us,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said the AVID program provides many benefits to the students involved in it.

“For many of them, it’s the first time they visit a college campus,” Gutierrez said. “A lot of them don’t have the opportunity to do that on their own.”