Monte Evans has an excused absence from his classes at Southern High School this morning, all because he knows a little something about computers. Well, maybe it's more than a little something.

"This guy, his knowledge of computers is almost frightening. It's almost incredible." said Henry Pankey, Southern's princicipal. " He is in the statosphere as far as his knowledge of computers."

And that has taken 16-year-old Evans to Pasadena, Calif., where today and Tuesday he'll teach at the prestigious California Institute of Technology, a school often mentioned in the same breath as the Massachusetts Insitute of Technology.

The program at Cal Tech is for high school students in Los Angeles and its goal is to encourage students to consider careers in science and math. Some of the nations's top graduate students and scientists__ along with Evans__will share their Knowledge. Program organizers hope Evans will be a catalyst for the high School students.

"He, kind of, is the segue or the bridge to those folks that helps our students realize that, 'Hey, this could be me,'" said James Muldavin, director of the California Center for Youlth Devlopment.

Today, Evans will help about 100 high school students and 15 of computational science. He thought at the program last year and found eager ears among students who could have been intimidated by someone their age with such vast knowledge.

" They were actually interested. They were willing to learn what I was actually saying," Evans said in very measured, exact words that undersscored his scientific bent. On a 4.0 scale, Evans has a big 3.95 grade point average. He plans to be a neeuroological surgeon and may begin his stuudies at Duke or UNC.

What's interesting are those who think Evans already is in college, said Robert Panoff, director of Durham's The shodor Foundation, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to improving science and math education in the nation.

Panoff accompanied Evans to Cal Tech last year. He introduced Evans as a "freshman from Southern." Because of his knowledge, mostly everyone assumed Evans was a college freshman, perhaps at Southern University in Louisiana. They hardly could believe the guy behind the glass attended high school in Durham, N.C.

"He's very articulate and knows what he's talking about, and isn't trying to pull he wool over anyone's eyes, " said Panoff. " He helps kids understand what they're doing. He helps teachers understand what they're doing and doesn't try to do it for them."

Evan's appeal, Muldavin said, is his knack for putting others at ease despite his ability to do great numerical feats with only minor assistance from the calculator.

" He comes and works real well with Dr. Panoff," said Muldavin. " They have a series of exercises they do with ropes and using props that are interactive, as opposed to just turing on a screen and showing mathematical formulas of Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 where people's eyes would glass over. They have the ability to make make it fun"

Upon his return from California,Evans will continue his work at Shodor, where he works, often helping middle and high school students better understand computer concepts.

At Southern High , Pankey said Evans has acted as technological consultant to the faculty, troubleshooting the computers there.

" Many times you're heard me talk about from diamonds in the rough we're gonna create crown jewels," Pankey said. " I tell you, he is definitely the personifiacation of a crown jewel."

c. Durham Herald Company, Inc.