E3 Summer Pathway to Engineering Programs
The Emerging Ethnic Engineering (E3) Program's summer pathway programs—Family Science Academy, Summer Institute, and Summer Bridge—drew a total of 136 participants ranging from fourth graders and their parents to high school juniors.
E3 is the academic program that seeks to increase the numbers of underrepresented students (African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American) who enroll and graduate from the College of Engineering. The E3 pathway programs provide opportunities for students from elementary school to high school who have an interest in science and technology to learn more about engineering.
E3 Director of Academics Ken Simonson, Associate Dean for Outreach Dr. Anant Kukreti and Administrative Secretary Ms. Christine Johnson organized the pathway to engineering programs. Below is a synopsis of the individual pathway programs.
The College is planning the first ever E3 Expo in October to showcase work and students who have participated in any of the E3 pathway programs in the past 20 years.
E3 Family Science Academy Draws 4th-7th Graders
The E3 Family Science Academy drew a total of 87 participants including elementary and middle school students and their parents. The Academy is open to a limited number of children in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades and their parents from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 on six Saturday mornings during the summer, this year from June 23 to July 28. Children carried out hands-on chemistry and physics experiments in labs while their parents attended workshops on topics such as early college preparation, college selection, financial assistance, and scholarship programs. The students were also required to maintain a journal of their experiences.
Workshop speakers included Dr. Jeff Johnson, Dr. Kimya Moyo, Dr. Joy Moore, and Ms. Linda Neenan (iSpace First Robotics). Additional parent workshop topics included, "How to Prepare Elementary Students for College" and "Planning for College Tuition" given by Ms. Cecily Goode, and Ms. Carol Tonge-Mack.
STEP Fellows—graduate students involved in the Science and Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) for students in grades K-12 and sponsored by the National Science Foundation—designed and organized the Academy's student-parent competition called "Terrific Towers." Aimee Frame, one of the STEP Fellows, enjoyed watching the students and parents work together to build their structures. "I liked seeing the looks of amazement on some of the parents and students faces when their structure held more pennies than they expected," said Frame.
According to Frame, many of the students seemed to learn from their involvement in the project. Said Frame, "By watching the loading of the structures, the students were able to see why some failed earlier than others and could draw conclusions on what worked best."
Colleen McGannon, also a STEP Fellow, enjoyed that the kids and parents were enthusiastic during the judging process and was surprised that some of the structures heled over 600 pennies.
Commented McGannon, "I learned (or was forced to remember) that frustration can bring tears. I saw that the parents were able to in some cases really back off and let the kids mess up even if it was painful for them. But at the end, you could see that many of them were very proud, even if the cup only held a few pennies."
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Sixteen Students Participate in E3 Summer Institute
Sixteen students in grades 8-11 attended the Summer Institute, sponsored by the Emerging Ethnic Engineering (E3) at the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering from June 18 to July 20.
The five-week Summer Institute, open to 8th-11th graders who have a "B" average, is offered weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. From Monday through Thursday, students attended Institute math and science courses to prepare for their upcoming academic year. On Fridays students attended engineering departmental presentations and demonstrations that introduced them to the different disciplines of engineering or went on field trips.
The Institute improves student understanding of science and math through hands-on classroom and lab experiences. Students conducted research on various topics and developed brochures, presentations and a science portfolio using new computer skills. They also created science posters that included interesting games.
Among the faculty making presentations on engineering disciplines were Dr. Hal Carter (electrical and computer engineering), Dr. Al Bosse (aerospace engineering), Dr. Jeff Johnson (biomedical engineering), Dr. Urmila Ghia (mechanical engineering) and Dr. Peter Smirniotis (chemical engineering).
E3 Summer Bridge
E3 Summer Bridge Program participants and their parents celebrated seven weeks of dedicated study with faculty and staff at the closing celebration luncheon in the Great Hall of Tangeman University Center on August 10. Thirty-two pre-college students participated in the seven-week residential Summer Bridge program that began June 24 when students moved in to dormitories.
The objective of Summer Bridge is to help students transition to college by experiencing the volume and pace of college-level courses in a cooperative learning environment that promotes teambuilding through peer support. Students take courses in calculus, chemistry, English and physics during the day and attend mandatory study sessions in the early evening. Students who pass English during the summer receive advance standing for English 101 in the autumn. Also, students who have demonstrated need are eligible for $3,250 scholarships, renewable for 5 years, through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Summer Bridge faculty attending the luncheon included James Copeland, Dr. Frank Davis, who also served as emcee, Dr. Joy Moore, Kinga Oliver, Lisa Prevette, Dr. Michael Roberts, and Raghuram Srinivasan. Among the university administrators in attendance were: Dr. Anant Kukreti, Associate Dean for Engineering Education Outreach; Dr. Anthony Perzigian, Senior Vice President and Provost of the University of Cincinnati; Dr. Mitchel Livingston, Vice President of Student Affairs & Services and Chief Diversity Officer; Dr. Caroline Miller, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management; Dr. Carlo Montemagno, Dean of Engineering; and Kenneth Simonson, Director of Academics for the E3 program. Administrative Secretary Ms. Christine Johnson was acknowledged for all her hard work in organizing the luncheon and helping the students throughout the Summer Bridge program.
Email: engn-equad@listserv.uc.edu
