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TryEngineering Summer Institute

An exciting ten day, on-campus engineering camp for high school students held at three premier universities across the United States in 2019.

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Category: Summer Camp

TESI Talks: Speaker Series

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This summer, each session at each TESI location features at least one TESI Talk! TESI Talks features presentations (followed by Q+A) by industry-leading professional engineers, entrepreneurs and more who will be providing real-world experience, know-how and guidance to our engineering summer camp students!

TESI Talk Speaker Profile: Oscar Pedroso and David Brenner: Thimble.io

Oscar Pedroso is the Chief Executive Officer of Thimble. Oscar graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in Mathematics and Economics in 2006. He is the first in his family to graduate with a college degree. After graduation, Oscar became a college admissions officer at the University of Rochester, School of Engineering, where he did some independent consulting on behalf of high school students who were interested in attending the college. Oscar noticed that the majority of these students that he helped were working on exciting STEM-related projects outside of school, but found that they really had no way to capture these projects in a way that would make them stand out from the usual GPA and SAT scores.  The projects that they were building and creating were being captured, for the most part, using physical portfolios to discuss their projects and share with others.

Oscar quickly learned that without the right resources, these students would decide to leave their STEM majors during their first two years in college because they either lost interest and pursued other courses (humanities) or just didn’t perceive enough value in completing a STEM degree. It made Oscar ask various questions such as: 1) How do you impress upon these students at the right age that the world is their oyster if only they pursue a STEM major? 2) How do you provide the right resources for these students, especially earlier on in their educational career, where they see the significance of such a degree or major?

In an effort to answer these questions, Oscar started GradFly, a tool that allowed students to build an online portfolio to showcase and explore STEM projects and share them with colleges and companies recruiting top talent. His role at Rochester led him to become a mentor for several FIRST Robotics organizations. He is obsessed with DIY and Maker communities and spends his time trying to understand makers and what makes them tick.

David Brenner serves as Chief Technology Officer and utilizes his technical strengths to design and develop Thimble’s core product: hardware kits, software learning applications, and learning content. He provides guidance for company strategy, hiring decisions, and oversees the planning, scheduling of contract vendors, and product development. David graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in computer engineering, where he also attended graduate school. He has previously worked for Microwave Data Systems, Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, Sun Microsystems, and IBM.

His work experience focused primarily on computer architecture, digital ASIC design, and pre-silicon functional verification. Highlights include: functional verification of a low-power floating point unit for the Bobcat x86 low-power processor, platform architecture guidance through analysis of an interconnect generation tool for Intel’s Atom processor system-on-chip (intended for use in cell phones and tablets), the promotion of MySQL, Solaris, and other open-source technologies created by Sun Microsystems at RIT through an educational lecture series, creation of verification models for IBM’s first 22nm system ASIC, and development of a documentation generation tool that was adopted by all of IBM’s Systems and Technology Group ASIC design teams (resulting in personal recognition from IBM’s BlueGene supercomputer team). David has been interested in electronics, computers, and technology since a very young age. He grew up with the maker movement and has a deep understanding of the market, its values, its needs, and its culture.  

TryEngineering Summer Institute STEM Summer Camp teens get an exclusive tour of the tarmac during a field trip to LaGuardia Airport

Check back often!

Why Summer Programs Make a Difference to College Admissions Officers

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While grades and standardized test scores are still the top factor for college admission, colleges take a close look at extracurricular activities as well. What students do over the summer is of particular interest.

According to Mark Kantrowitz, senior video president and publisher at Edvisors Network, in an article published by CNBC, colleges think of summertime in the same way that a prospective employer thinks about a hiatus between jobs. “Colleges want to understand, what have you been doing with yourself? What happened during that gap?” he explains. The answer to those questions can be indicative of what a student will spend time doing on campus.

Students at the TryEngineering Summer Institute engage in a design challenge.

The summer experiences that are most likely to stand out to college admissions officers are those more specialized than a recreational summer camp. Students hoping to show off their dedication to athletics might consider a sports camp, while someone who has their sights set on admission to an engineering school will want to spend time over the summer at an engineering program that will set them apart from other applicants.

Something that makes Steven Infanti, associate vice president for admissions at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, take a closer look at a student’s application is a STEM camp experience. “When I look at an applicant who has a 2.5 [GPA], which would be kind of a borderline admit for us, but I see on the application, I participate in this camp … that shows a lot of initiative and someone who has passion,” he says.

Students at the TryEngineering Summer Institute design and 3D print components for robot cars that they will also race and put through obstacle courses.

Attending a camp can also help solidify what a student wants to do for a living in the future, helping them to be more focused in college.

As one past TryEngineering Summer Institute student said, “Multiple times throughout the camp, I had these moments where I could envision my future with such clarity that I now know my future major and profession will be in engineering.”

Showcasing Summer Experience

During the college admissions process, students may choose to showcase their summer experience in a variety of ways, from simply listing it as an extra-curricular activity on a college application to working especially meaningful experiences into the essay portion.

Students at the TryEngineering Summer Institute make new friends from all over the world.

“If you had a transformative experience at the summer program or a big impact on others, that tells them more about who you are as an individual, especially if you can write about how it set you in a particular direction,” Kantrowitz said. “If something is of interest to you, you’re more likely to write a passionate essay.”

Students might also consider reaching out to summer camp counselors or directors for letters of recommendation. “Relatively few students submit letters from outside [school] or that are job-related,” says Eric Greenberg, founder and director of education consulting firm Greenberg Educational Group. “That can be enormously valuable.”

TryEngineering Summer Institute: What About the Weekend?

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Each weekday during TryEngineering Summer Institute is packed with fun, hands-on design challenges and learning the latest in engineering and technology. There’s also time for students to relax and get to know each other better. But what about the weekend?

University of California, Riverside
Just 50 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, UCR is distinguished by more than 60 years of high-impact research. But after a week of everything engineering, students will get to spend their Saturday at Raging Waters Los Angeles, a 60-acre waterpark with more than 50 world-class rides, slides, and attractions. Named a “Top 10 Water Park” by USA Today, Raging Waters boasts the state’s only hydromagnetic water coaster. On Sunday, students stay local, making use of the great on-campus facilities. They can cool off in the outdoor pool, play games in the gym, or work out in the fitness center to relax and recharge for the exciting week ahead.

Texas A&M University
Not only is Texas A&M located near the heart of the United States space program, it’s also close to Grand Station, the area’s largest entertainment venue. So on Saturday, students will get to bowl on one of Grand Station’s 40 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, play with the amazing virtual reality gaming system, participate in a game of laser tag, and challenge their skills in the interactive arcade. On Sunday, they’ll have the opportunity to explore on-campus facilities like the rec center, featuring a rock climbing wall, gymnasium, fitness center, and pool, before resting up and prepping for week two of engineering fun.

 

At the TryEngineering Summer Institute, the emphasis is on learning, but it’s also about making new friends and having fun. Each of our three campus locations offers unique facilities that make this an unforgettable experience for teens. Be sure to register early to get your first choice campus and session!

Survey Shows Girls Can Thrive in Tech, Even When Their Parents Aren’t Tech Savvy

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TryEngineering Summer Institute is a great option to encourage girls to consider STEM careersJust because you don’t consider yourself tech savvy, that doesn’t mean that your daughter won’t thrive in the technology field. A recent survey conducted by TechGirlz, in partnership with Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, offers a deeper understanding of the role parents play in their daughters’ engagement in technology. The fourth annual survey polled more than 1,000 participants — girls and parents — exploring the influences and relationships with technology overall for both groups.

The survey found that girls can thrive in technology, even when their parents aren’t tech savvy. They’re at least as interested in technology as those whose families do consider themselves tech savvy. Of families where parents report a low affinity with technology, 86 percent of girls are excited about the subject. And where parents report a high affinity with technology, 88 percent of girls are excited about it.

TryEngineering Summer Institute is a great option to encourage girls to consider STEM careersOther findings include:

  • 86 percent of girls felt encouraged in their interest in technology by their parents.
  • Girls felt slightly more supported by their fathers (94 percent) than their mothers (85 percent).
  • 100 percent of girls from Hispanic families felt encouraged by their parents to learn about tech, compared to 92 percent from black families, 87 percent from white families, and 85 percent from Asian families.
  • 47 percent of girls say friendship drives their interest in tech compared to only 10 percent for career potential.
  • 33 percent of parents point to career potential as the primary motivator for tech learning.
  • 100 percent of girls in sixth grade expressed interest in tech compared to 88 percent of girls in eighth grade.

TryEngineering Summer Institute is a great option to encourage girls to consider STEM careers“This survey shows that, contrary to popular belief, girls are interested in tech, and that they will seek out instruction regardless of their parents’ affinity with technology,” says TechGirlz founder and CEO Tracey Welson-Rossman. “It should reassure parents they can set their daughters on the path to a rewarding, empowering career in tech with support and encouragement, even if they do not understand the subject matter themselves.”

The survey was the first to match responses from girls and parents to learn specifically about parents’ role in their daughters’ interest in technology.

“Most of the information available about relationships among parents, children and STEM is based on anecdotal evidence,” says Murugan Anandarajan, Ph.D., professor of management information systems at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business. “Using past research models, we designed one of the first empirical studies to bring validity to this important topic. The results represent an initial step toward understanding how girls’ perceptions of technology can be influenced and shaped within their home environments. Our findings begin a powerful conversation for parents, showing that, regardless of their relationship with technology, they can develop strategies to promote and encourage girls’ technology interests at a young age.”

Encouraging Girls to Pursue Tech

TryEngineering Summer Institute is a great option to encourage girls to consider STEM careersIn the United Kingdom, research conducted by PwC found that women account for only 15 percent of employees in STEM fields. Unfortunately, there are few signs that this number will increase without extra action, as only 15.8 percent of undergraduates in STEM fields are women.

So how can parents take extra action? By encouraging their daughters to consider pursuing technology, whether they themselves are tech-savvy or not. There are programs that can help, including Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (Girl Day), a growing movement to inspire girls’ futures by encouraging them to explore this exciting and rewarding career so they learn they have a place in engineering a better world.

Parents can also encourage their daughters to consider the TryEngineering Summer Institute, a two week program during which teens explore the field of engineering, gaining hands-on experience and seeing and hearing from engineers first hand. It’s perfect for girls who already have a connection with technology, as well as those just thinking of trying it out for the first time. Learn about the 2019 Summer Institute program and register today!

Why You Don’t Need Engineering Experience to Attend the Summer Institute

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The TryEngineering Summer Institute offers students incredible hands-on experiences in engineering and exposure to the top engineering campuses, companies, and centers, plus the opportunity to meet real-world engineers. Clearly it is going to be the perfect two-week summer camp for kids who are all about engineering!

TAMU group trip
Students at the Summer Institute at Texas A&M University.

But the Summer Institute is also the perfect camp experience for teens who are just beginning to explore the field, and even those who aren’t sure they’re interested in engineering at all. The only requirement for our program is a keen sense of curiosity.

Is your teen curious about …

  • Living on a college campus?
  • Exploring a new city?
  • Meeting new people?
  • Going outside of their comfort zone?
  • Gaining self-confidence and independence?

Then your teen belongs at the TryEngineering Summer Institute! Register now.

Our program is designed to introduce teens to the field of engineering, but they will come away with improved teamwork, communication, and creative thinking skills that will transfer to many facets of their lives, including their future field of study (in any discipline) and career. They’ll have the chance to live like college students on a prestigious campus, explore a new city, meet new friends, and get to know themselves in a way they never have before.

Of course, our hope is that they’ll also develop such passion for this exciting field that they will choose to pursue degrees and professions in engineering!

Our Introductory Program is perfect for students embarking on their first exploration of the engineering field. Anyone interested in learning more about this field will be challenged and inspired through fun and engaging classes and activities, field trips, speakers, and more.

Students who are returning to the Summer Institute for a second year, or who already have a strong grasp on engineering concepts, will benefit from our Advanced Engineering Program. The curriculum and coursework in this program builds in intensity, perfect for older and more experienced students who want to deepen their understanding of the engineering field.

For more information about the Summer Institute and a FREE infographic to share with your teen, complete this form today.


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