HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Budding scientists and engineers interested in sharpening their skills alongside professionals and a former astronaut are encouraged to apply for the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp program.
One thousand middle-school students will be selected to attend one of 20 camps held at universities across the country, where they will be immersed in hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning.
This unique experience supported by the ExxonMobil Foundation includes mentoring from Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., the first African-American to walk in space and camp founder. “From building models of bridges to designing robots and creating spacesuits, students see first-hand engineering, science, technology and math come alive through real-world applications,” said Harris, president, The Harris Foundation.
Throughout the camp, students live on campus and participate in interactive, inquiry-based classes taught by university faculty, secondary teachers and other professionals. Campers also have the opportunity to explore local museums, nature centers and ecosystems − discovering science at work in their communities.
Students also hear from local professionals about rewarding career options in STEM fields, which will continue to see growth in the need for skilled workers. Science and engineering jobs are projected to expand at more than double the rate of the entire U.S. labor force through 2018, according to a recent STEMconnector® report.
“Technology is essential to nearly every industry, and students need to be well versed in science and math in order to succeed in the high-tech nature of the 21st century,” said Suzanne McCarron, president, ExxonMobil Foundation. “Through programs like the Bernard Harris science camps, ExxonMobil is committed to preparing the future workforce by helping today’s youth develop an interest and solid foundation in STEM.”
Since 2006, more than 8,700 underserved students have participated in this unique program. According to a 2013 Harris Foundation study of camp alumni currently enrolled in college, 96 percent credit the program with influencing their decision to pursue higher education, and 86 percent plan to pursue a STEM-related career.
Eligible applicants must be entering sixth, seventh or eighth grades in the fall of 2014. Additional information regarding application requirements and camp-specific submission instructions are available at www.theharrisfoundation.org.
In 2014, camps will be hosted at the following universities:
Bowie State University (Bowie, Md.)
Lamar University (Beaumont,
Texas)
New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, N.J.)
Prairie
View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas)
Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute (Troy, N.Y.)
Saint Louis University (St.
Louis, Mo.)
Temple University (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Texas Tech
University (Lubbock, Texas)
University of Alaska-Anchorage
(Anchorage, Alaska)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little
Rock, Ark.)
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (Colorado
Springs, Colo.)
University of Houston (Houston, Texas)
University
of Oklahoma (Norman, Okla.)
University of Southern California (Los
Angeles, Calif.)
University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, Texas)
University
of Texas-Pan American (Edinburg, Texas)
University of Virginia
(Charlottesville, Va.)
University of Wyoming (Laramie, Wyo.)
Washington
& Jefferson College (Washington, Pa.)
Worcester Polytechnic
Institute (Worcester, Mass.)
About The Harris Foundation
Founded in 1998, The Harris Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization based in Houston, Texas, whose overall mission is to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. The foundation supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams.
The Education Mission of The Harris Foundation is to enable youth to develop and achieve their full potential through the support of social, recreational and educational programs. The Harris Foundation believes that students can be prepared now for the careers of the future through a structured education program and the use of positive role models. More than 15,000 students annually participate and benefit from THF programs. www.theharrisfoundation.org
About the ExxonMobil Foundation
The ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The foundation and the corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels. In 2012, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $256 million in contributions worldwide, of which $116 million was dedicated to education. www.exxonmobil.com/community.
