University of Alabama at Birmingham professor Renato Camata recently volunteered to mentor gifted students at Wilsonville and Shelby elementary schools on the topic of physics.

Paula Tolbert’s third through fifth grade classes studied the physics of roller coasters and created a model of a working roller coaster. Camata mentored the students via videoconferencing and e-mail.

Tolbert said Camata helped develop student interest in math and science.

“This was an experience that the students will not forget,” Tolbert said. “The first thing the students said at the conclusion of the mentoring program was, ‘That was awesome!’”