College of Engineering I North Carolina A&T State University

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K12 / BRIDGE PROGRAMS

Outreach Summer Programs (Middle-School and High School Students)

Engineer Starter’s Program

The College of Engineering has for many years offered the Engineer Starter’s Program (ESP), a two-week non-residential program for middle and high schools students. The ESP is a morning program that begins at 8:00am and ends at 11:30am. There are two different sessions of this two-week program. The first is usually held in the month of June while the second session is held during the month of July. Teachers and staff from local high schools also participate in the program. Students receive instruction in math and science. In addition, these students also participate in field trips at local science centers and corporations.

Para-Research Program

The Para-Research Program (PRP) is sponsored by the Department of Industrial & System Engineering (ISE) and the Institute for Human Machine Systems (IHMS). Professor Celestine A. Ntuen is the director for the Institute with Elaine Vinson as the coordinator. This program is designed to give high school students (rising 9th through 12th grade) who aspire to become engineers a head start by exposing them to Human-Machine Systems Engineering (HMSE) and Manufacturing Engineering. PRP consists of laboratory activities and demonstrations. Activities include hands-on experience in state-of-the-art laboratories on virtual reality; robotics; automated manufacturing cell; multi-media and internet application; ergonomic design, group dynamics, and field trips. PRP is a two-week program consisting of two sessions. The program schedule is Monday - Friday, 12:45PM - 4:00 P.M.

Energy Engineer Starter’s Program

This program is a two-week non-residential program for seventh and eighth graders. The 7 and 8 graders from the ESP program attend the Energy Engineer Starter’s Program (EESP). The EESP exposes students to buildings, energy, and space planning. Students conduct projects that pertain to buildings and conserving energy. In addition, these 7 and 8 graders attend field trips to local energy companies.

Center for Power Electronics Systems

This program introduces high school students who have completed either their junior or senior year to power electronics technology. The Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) is a two-week day camp. The participants are provided an opportunity to learn what power electronics is and - perhaps more importantly - get a first-hand look at how the use of electricity will change the future. During the two-week camp, participants learn some of the fundamentals of power electronics and lab safety. Students are given a laboratory project in which they work on independently, under the guidance of a graduate student mentor. Upon the completion of the camp, participants are asked to submit a ten-page essay describing the outcome of their research/project.