Engaging High School & CC Students in STEM
This program aims to increase interest in STEM fields among students by showcasing real-world applications and creating engaging educational opportunities such as workshops, outreach events, and research initiatives. Through the Ambassador Program, students develop essential skills and explore various engineering disciplines, fostering a diverse talent pool for future STEM professions.
Uploaded on Mar 16, 2025 | 0 Views
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Presentation Transcript
Engineering Ambassador Program to Engage High School and CC Students Interest in Stem Carla Flores
Background & Introduction 13% of the entire workforce are STEM majors. - As the nation s infrastructure continues to age, STEM related fields will increase in demand. - How do we increase the number of STEM professionals? - - Introduce STEM to students at the elementary, Middle and High school levels Subjects like math and science tend to be the least liked for students
How can we change this negative viewpoint on STEM related subjects? - Show them the benefits of STEM in engaging ways and how these concepts are applied in the real world. - Creating STEM based schools within communities ex/ Washington DC has McKinley Tech, HD Woodson, and Phelps - Not everyone has access to these options .
Goals of the Ambassador Program & Research - To bridge the gap between those students who are underexposed and STEM students the SEAS Department of University of the District of Columbia created it s UDC Ambassadors program with a research grant from the NSF. - promote STEM and related concepts to all students from the middle school level to community college level Diversity - - - - 2 parts: Risk and Resilience Program (Summer) UDC Outreach Program (Fall & Spring semester)
Research Methodology Risk and Resilience workshop: - - - Introduction Interactive activity: create the strongest pillars out of paper & see which design held the most Tour and discuss Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering labs conduct tests relevant to each major - Receive a certificate for completion of the risk and resilience workshop
Winning design of pillars was able to stack 26 reams of paper.
Research Methodology (continued..) Engineering Ambassador Program - Develop and brainstorm presentation, leadership and communication skills through weekly meetings Attend campus recruitment events and organize off-campus outreach events (e.g.: classroom presentations, science/STEM fairs, and high school and community college visits and outreach activities) - - Conduct survey after the outreach and write a report documenting the outreach activities and result - 9 events
ASME/SWE See What You Can BE Panel discussion between students who attended events and UDC students.
Risk & Resilience Program Group photo of Risk and Resilience workshop participants shortly after completing the workshop and receiving their certificates.
McKinley Tech Visits UDC - The photo was moments before beginning a competition to design and plan the strongest building structure that would be able to survive an earthquake simulator. Students also engaged in lab tours and brief presentations. -
Anticipated Benefits & Results - - - - Give exposure to students who may not know what STEM is. Representation for women in STEM + minorities Able to bring students activities they had never seen or done before. Give high school students insight on college life as STEM majors. Moving Forward . We hope this will encourage them to seek an education in a STEM related field and continue to promote STEM and all its disciplines to other students regardless of their background. As the program continues to grow we will continue to improve our approach based on what the students tell us in order to make STEM fun and more appealing to our future STEM students.
THANK YOU! Questions or comments?
