Middle school girls from around the country will attend a high-level summer engineering program at Michigan Technological University, thanks to the generosity of a Detroit-area electricity transmission company
This month, 40 girls in sixth through eighth grades will take part in a life-changing opportunity to explore future careers in engineering. The program, part of Michigan Tech’s Summer Youth Programs (SYP), is made possible with a $40,000 gift from ITC Holdings Corp.
The University will host the Junior Women in Engineering (JWIE) competitive scholarship program. Scholarship recipients will attend one of two week-long sessions, July 7-13 or July 14-20. The program is an exploration of the various types of engineering and is designed to showcase future career paths. JWIE challenges students to design and implement various project from assorted engineering fields — civil, environmental, mechanical, electrical, materials and more.
Thinking Like Engineers
Participants will problem solve, create, work in teams and learn to overcome obstacles — much like engineers do in their careers. A main focus of the program is to help girls learn what engineering entails and allow them to envision their future in STEM fields. In addition to exposure to careers in engineering, they will get a taste of college life by staying in residence halls, attending class and engaging in recreation/social activities throughout campus. These experiences allow them to get a feel for the independence that comes with attending college.
ITC Helps Meet Need for Women in Engineering
“Michigan Tech’s Junior Women in Engineering program offers a great opportunity for motivated young women to learn more about engineering, experience university life, and build strong and lasting relationships with others who share their passion,” said Jon Jipping, executive vice president and chief operating officer of ITC Holdings Corp. “The program is an exciting, educational way for young women to explore a variety of engineering disciplines and opportunities. ITC has long recognized the need for more young women to enter the engineering profession. It’s programs like this that quench the thirst for knowledge and help place students on the path to academic, professional and personal success.”
Educational Exploration"The program is an exciting, educational way for young women to explore a variety of engineering disciplines and opportunities."
The goal of JWIE, as is the case with the other SYP competitive scholarship programs, is to provide students the opportunity to explore STEM fields and careers in a comfortable and enthusiastic environment. JWIE is one of dozens of explorations offered by SYP ranging from business, computing, humanities, leadership, social sciences, outdoor and environmental studies, engineering, and science and technology. The programs are run by Michigan Tech’s Center for Educational Outreach.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
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