The Dalton and Linda Floyd Family Mentoring Program at Coastal Carolina University will host "TEAL Youth Day: Talking Education and Learning" on Friday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the CCU campus. Students from eight elementary and five middle schools from Georgetown and Horry Counties will attend.

The purpose of the event is to provide children and youth participating in the mentoring program the opportunity to visit a college campus to see where their mentors go to school. CCU student mentors normally visit children at their school each week. Not only does it make the college experience more "real" to these students, but it motivates them to consider higher education in their own futures.

TEAL Youth Day is hosted by at least 170 CCU student mentors as well as 50 student volunteers, faculty and staff members. The event will feature a variety of activities that encourage students to succeed through education, science and artistic expression. Also, each student will receive a new book to promote literacy and reading.

Participating elementary schools in Horry County are Carolina Forest, Conway, Loris, River Oaks, South Conway, Waccamaw and Waterway, along with Plantersville in Georgetown County.

Participating middle schools in Horry County are Black Water, Conway, Forestbrook, Myrtle Beach and Whittemore Park.

The Dalton and Linda Floyd Family Mentoring program is housed in CCU's Biddle Center for Teaching, Learning and Community Engagement within the Spadoni College of Education. The program encourages CCU students to be positive role models for children in area schools to ensure their success in and out of the classroom.

For more information about the event, contact the Center at 843-349-2665.