Randy Sullivan had some science-based tricks up his sleeve and his audience of seventh-graders was all eyes and ears on Tuesday (March 12) as the "Campus Bound" project brought 200 middle-schoolers to the University of Oregon for a sampling of college life.

Campus Bound – a collaboration of the UO, Springfield School District and Springfield Chamber of Commerce is intended to inspire Springfield's seventh-grade students to make higher education a part of their future. The program involves a day-long visit to the UO, during which a variety of speakers demonstrate that college can be accessible, fun and challenging.

Sullivan, a lecture demonstrator for the UO Chemistry Department, conducted a variety of chemistry demonstrations on Tuesday, much to the delight of his young audience.

A loud gasp went through the crowd when Sullivan touched a torch to a hydrogen-filled balloon, igniting a momentary fireball. He then challenged the seventh-graders to guess which element had been in the lighter-than-air balloon and congratulated those who guessed hydrogen (after the first student to raise a hand incorrectly guessed helium).

A total of about 800 Springfield seventh-graders will be brought to the UO in four separate groups for day-long "Campus Bound" tours this month.

Tuesday's group of 200 students was shown around the UO by a campus guide; listened to a presentation by Jim Brooks, the UO's director of financial aid and scholarships; and visited the UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History and the Student Recreation Center.

And watched Sullivan perform his chemistry-inspired magic.

The Springfield Chamber of Commerce funded the Campus Bound program with a gift of more than $11,000 that was raised at its annual Springfield Tailgate Auction.

- from the UO Office of Strategic Communications