This paper describes a one-and-a-half day Distinguished Scholar Symposium during which undergraduate underrepresented minorities (URMs) from nearby schools visit the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) to learn about advanced degree programs in the biological sciences. The symposium created an environment that inspired URMs to continue their scientific education after college. A mixture of discussions, hands-on activities, and traditional experiences were tailored to address students' concern. Faculty and administrators may find this program to be a useful model on which to base their own event for recruiting URMs to any science program at different levels of education, including high school, community college, four-year college, and postcollege programs. (Contains 1 table.)