Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State's Bagley College of Engineering will host an array of camps this summer geared toward K-12 students interested in engineering, science and technology.
"Several of our camps specifically focus on opening the eyes of young women and minority groups to the benefits of an engineering education," said Emma Seiler, K-12 outreach coordinator for the college.
Elementary and secondary school students will get information on the different engineering fields and the diverse career opportunities available to women and men.
"Many of the students who attend the summer programs later decide to pursue engineering degrees," said college Dean Kirk Schulz. "The goal of the K-12 summer camps is to get students interested in the fields of engineering and science so they can become the future industry and business leaders."
Through hands-on activities, participants also will learn about designing and building balsa wood bridges, roller coasters, prototypes of a shoe, and robots.
"We want all camp participants to learn that engineering can be fun," said Seiler.
The following programs are scheduled this summer:
-- June 11-17, University Familiarization Program for Minorities in Engineering, for current students in grades 9-11, $100 cost, application deadline March 17.
-- June 7-10 and July 19-22, The Society of Women Engineers Women in Action Camp, for current students in grades 7 and 8, $60 cost, application deadline March 17.
-- July 9-15, The Society of Women Engineers WISE Women Camp, for girls in grades 9-11, $100 cost, application deadline March 17.
-- June 5-7 and July 24-26, Introduction to Engineering for High School Teachers and Counselors, no cost, application deadline March 17. Teachers and counselors participating in the program will receive 2.0 continuing education units and a $150 stipend. Housing, breakfast and lunch also are provided.
-- July 17-21 on the MSU campus and July 24-28 at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension facility in Canton, Summer Engineering Experience, for current students in grades 4-6, $250 cost, application deadline March 17.
-- July 10-28, QUEST Research Program for current 11th graders, no cost, application deadline June 1. This camp provides students with an opportunity to work on research with faculty and graduate students in a laboratory, and participate in enrichment seminars.
-- June 25-July 1, MSU Robotics Camp, for current students in grades 8-10, $750 cost, March 17 application deadline. Students will learn to design, build and test a remote-controlled robot. They also will learn about the different engineering programs, tour laboratories and participate in hands-on laboratory investigations.
-- July 6-Aug. 5, IMAGE Summer Bridge Program, for minority students who will be entering freshmen at MSU in the fall, no cost, limited space, April 21 application deadline. Students receive mentors and are exposed to different areas of engineering. Through this program, students become familiar with taking college-level classes, and they learn study skills and techniques that will enable them to achieve academic success.
For more information about K-12 outreach programs and summer camps, contact Emma Seiler at (662) 325-1360 or eseiler@engr.msstate.edu. Applications and more information are available at www.bagley.msstate.edu/outreach.