MARIETTA - "Men building men," is the phrase that best describes what the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity's Guide Right program is all about, fraternity member Lawrence King of Austell said.

For 14 years, the Alpharetta-Smyrna alumni chapter of the historically black fraternity has administered the program to predominately black male middle and high school students primarily in Cobb. The program, said King, focuses on academic achievement and mentoring the students for success in life.

Today, the fraternity is kicking off Black History Month by conducting a seminar, "Explorations in Science and Engineering," at the Anderson Boys & Girls Club on Manget Street in Marietta, to highlight the achievements of blacks in those professions. Featured speakers include emerging and veteran black scientists and engineers. The event is limited to program participants.

According to the Science and Engineering Indicators 2010 report from the federal National Science Board, blacks, Hispanics and other minorities constitute 24 percent of the U.S. population, 13 percent of college graduates and 10 percent of the college-degreed in science and engineering occupations.

"The truth of the matter is, if you work hard you can be a scientist or engineer," said King, 70, a semi-retired mechanical engineer who earned degrees from Cleveland State University and University of Michigan.

Guide Right is a national program of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity that dates back to 1922. In 1996, the Alpharetta-Smyrna chapter instituted it locally in collaboration with the Marietta Housing Authority and Marietta City Schools.

Many of the students registered in Guide Right come from single-parent homes, said King.

"Obviously, that's a big attraction for families that are in those situations that don't have a constant and positive male role model in the structure of the family," he said.

"We want to build in those students' characteristics of responsibility that reflect into leadership. We want to stress in them the importance of community service because that builds stewardship. And then there's the academic scholarship part of the program."

Most of the students in the program attend Cobb and Marietta City schools. They meet twice a month at the Anderson Boys & Girls Club during the school year, with volunteers from the fraternity chapter. Up to 75 percent of the chapter members are actively involved, King said.

Besides academic assistance, chapter members sponsor field trips, camping and fishing trips, sporting event trips, and other mentoring activities with the young men in the program. In addition, some members carve out one-on-one time with their mentees and meet regularly with their parents. The fraternity also funds their Boys & Girls Club membership.

Retired Army MSgt. Larry Gordon, 58, of Stockbridge, is a chapter member who has volunteered as a Guide Right mentor for the past 12 years. He has a 17-year-old son who is active as well. "It's a way to give to the community and help at-risk youth who certainly need it," he said.

The 80 men who belong to the local chapter and mentor are lawyers, educators, social workers, engineers, military veterans and other professionals. They range in age from Kennesaw State University and Southern Polytechnic State University undergraduates to men who have been fraternity members for 50 years.

Founded in 1911 at Indiana University, Kappa Alpha Psi is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc., which is comprised of nine historically black greek letter sororities and fraternities. Traditionally, black sororities and fraternities have stressed community service in their mission.

Civil Rights Movement leader Ralph Abernathy, lawyer Johnnie Cochran, and TV show host and activist Tavis Smiley are counted among notables who have been members of Kappa Alpha Psi.

King said his fraternity's Guide Right program has been successful in helping its participants earn college scholarships and preparing them to higher learning. The program is open to middle and high school males of all races and backgrounds. There is no registration cost. Participants are required to complete a Boys & Girls Club application. However, there is a waiting list, said King.

The program is funded by the fraternity's nonprofit foundation and accepts donations. Members of the local chapter said they would like to expand the program to include more students.

Those interested in Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity's Guide Right program are asked to correspond to the Alpharetta-Smyrna alumni chapter at P.O. Box 724015, Atlanta, GA 31139. The chapter's Web site is online at www.asakappas.org.