NATCHEZ — Cate Drane may only be in eighth grade but she already has her eyes set on college.

The University of Mississippi’s Lott Institute for Rising Ninth Graders recently chose the 13-year-old Trinity Episcopal Day School student for their prestigious summer program.

Drane said teachers at Trinity and her parents, Kenneth and Cindy Drane, encouraged her to apply because of her love of history.

“I found out I was nominated in late November,” Drane said. “I turned in my application on Christmas Day.”

The course-subject for this year’s Lott Leadership program is “Problems in American Democracy,” where students will study recent American history.

“I’m excited about going there and learning new things,” she said. “I want to learn how it was 50 years ago when desegregation was happening and how it was for other people and how they lived through that.”

Drane said she feels so many history classes focus on ancient or distant history that little time is spent on the modern era.

“We don’t get to learn all the new things that are happening in the world,” Drane said.

Participants in the program will earn high school credit, participate in a service project and take a trip to Little Rock, Ark., to visit Heifer International, the Clinton Presidential Center and Little Rock Central High School.

“Basically, a little bit of everything,” said Drane, who after high school plans to attend the University of Mississippi to work toward a degree in biology before becoming a radiologist.

“I would have to say science is my absolute favorite subject,” she said. “But history is one of my favorites, too.”

Drane said she is excited to live on campus for two weeks while studying one of her favorite subjects.

The Lott Institute program is designed to imbue leadership in students at a young age.

Drane said she sees herself in leadership positions already, especially in sports.

Outside of the classroom, Drane is involved in almost every athletic program available.

She was captain of the high school basketball team last year, she plays tennis, archery, softball and she cheers.

“Basically everything I can to keep busy,” she said.

The leadership skills she learns both on a court, or in a classroom, she said, will continue to benefit her through college.

“It’s a really big honor just to be nominated,” Drane said. “I didn’t really think I was going to get it.”