While many teenagers took a break from learning this summer, dozens of San Antonio high schoolers spent their time studying in a professional-grade laboratory.

The Valero Young Scientist Program at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute wrapped up its third summer, bringing rising juniors and seniors from 24 local high schools into real research labs for four weeks of hands-on science.

Many of those students came from low-income communities where their schools may not be able to offer these kinds of opportunities.