On Saturday mornings, Dina Jimenez usually sleeps in, talks to her friends on the phone or hangs out at the mall. But last Saturday the 10th-grade student at Sacramento High School used an alarm clock to get to class on time. She's one of 46 students participating in the inaugural session of a five-week program to help students develop their academic potential and realize their goal of attending university. "It's a great experience," Jimenez said. "It's going to give me an idea of what college expects from me. My parents wanted me to go for it 100 percent." The Scholars Academies are a partnership between UC Davis and Sacramento High School. Together, teachers from the school and faculty members from UC Davis are leading three-hour classes in math and analytical reading and writing. "The kids were all very enthusiastic," said Nael Dennaoui of Sacramento High School, who is helping to teach Jimenez's session on analytical reading and writing. "They all participated and were very excited to start." Dennaoui, who has three years teaching experience, said he appreciated seeing how the university faculty members encouraged students to draw on their own experiences and how their questioning techniques guided the students' thinking. "I feel like I'm really learning a lot," he said. Faith Paul, director of educational outreach initiatives at UC Davis, said the university hopes to expand the program to enable more students to enroll in up to three academies each year at progressively more challenging levels and in different subject areas. The four remaining classes of the inaugural sessions will be held through the end of February. UC Davis also is partnering with teachers at Sacramento High School and five other area schools to better align curriculum with state standards and university admission criteria. As well, about 75 UC Davis students are serving as tutors and academic mentors to students at four area schools. Note to Editors: Members of the media are invited to attend and photograph the classes from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 30, in Rooms AE1 and AE8 of Sacramento High School, 2315 34th St.