FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas School of Law admitted 24 students from 16 undergraduate institutions for its annual Summer Pre-law Program, known as SPPARK.

SPPARK is designed to expand diversity in law schools and in the legal profession by immersing underrepresented population groups in a three-week on-campus law school experience. A gift from the Walmart Legal Department supports the May 22-June 9 in-residence program.

This intensive program includes professional development seminars and excursions, academic courses designed to simulate law school classes and preparation for the law school entrance exam, known as the LSAT. The curriculum helps to develop skills and networks students need to be admitted to law school, compete for the best scholarships, excel in their classes and become productive members of the legal community.

The law school's summer pre-law program was initially established in 2012 through a grant from the Law School Admission Council and Discoverlaw.org. The University of Arkansas School of Law has been able to continue the program with independent funds, a rare occurrence among the LSAC-funded programs.

Approximately 100 students have successfully completed the program since it began, and many have successfully matriculated to law schools across the country. Students from the first few years have graduated from law school and been admitted to practice law.

The members of this year's class are from 11 states, including 10 Arkansans. Half of the attendees are first generation college students, and eight members are University of Arkansas students/alumni. The group is 45 percent African-American, 21 percent Hispanic, 21 percent Caucasian, 13 percent American Indian, 71 percent female and 29 percent male. Participants completed approximately five hours of guided self-study before arriving at the university

Follow the SPPARK experience by going to the University of Arkansas School of Law Facebook page or searching #SPPARK17 on Twitter or Instagram.