COE hosts free summer camps foster future STEM leaders

Throughout the summer, Lamar University's College of Engineering held four annual summer camps geared towards engaging sixth-grade through 12th-grade students.

Lamar Intro to Engineering (LITE) Camp allowed middle school students from surrounding areas to be introduced to different engineering disciplines over a week.

“The camp was helpful to kids because it introduced them to different engineering professions, and how each profession works,” Reece Rodgers, sophomore chemical engineering major said. “One of the things they learned is how chemical reactions work. For example, how vinegar reacts to baking soda to create foam. And how they can manipulate it to make it more explosive or less explosive.”

At Project Engineer Camp, high school students were able to build robots and attempt different challenges such as sled pulls, robot tug-of-war, and relay races.

“Teamwork, communication skills, and the ability to quickly adapt in situations are all skills the students were able to display,” Senior chemical engineering major Isabel Martinez said. “As students advance in their degree, these are the key skills they need to become career ready professionals.”

Students were also able to work with industry partners, such as Motiva, BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals LLC, ExxonMobil, and Chevron Phillips Chemical. These industry partners make this camp possible through their sponsorships. These sponsorships support the various College of Engineering summer camps, allowing for all students to attend free of charge.

“The camps give our community members the opportunity to learn future engineering skills and build workplace capabilities that may not be taught in engineering courses,” Motiva engineer Kennedy Kieschnick said. “By supporting and investing in this program, we are fostering the next generation of engineers and developing the minds of our future workforce.”

Students who went to LITE Camp were also able to attend a trip to NASA to learn how engineers use their knowledge and skills to perform daily tasks to help the space center operate.

“NASA was so much fun,” Bryce Feldhausen, sophomore mechanical engineering student, said. “I enjoyed getting to experience the magic of space through the camper’s eyes.” 

Inspiring students to join STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers is the basis on which these engineering camps are held. Encouraging and educating local middle school and high school students to grow in their learning over the summer allows them to see more possibilities of what their future can hold.

“Education is one of Motiva’s corporate citizenship pillars” Kieschnick said. “So, we understand the importance of providing local youth with opportunities for hands-on engagement that will inspire them to pursue a career in the STEM field.”

The College of Engineering looks forward to growing these camps and allowing more students to attend in the upcoming years.

“Each year we are able to expand our reach, allowing for more campers to experience engineering concepts and gain insights into STEM careers,” Bayleigh Smith, associate director of marketing and recruitment at the College of Engineering, said. “My hope is that we can continue to grow and inspire future generations to explore the exciting world of engineering."

To learn more about the College of Engineering, visit http://http://www.lamar.edu/engineering.