HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Interested in getting a head start in a potential career in STEM?
Well, Drake State Community & Technical College is here to help middle and high school students who are interested.
Middle and high school students can now enroll in free STEM bootcamps at Drake State. These bootcamps are possible due to a multi-year grant from NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP).
This award supports minority-serving institutions working to increase the number of racially or ethnically underrepresented students (Hispanics and Latinos, African Americans, American Indians, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders), and female students in science and engineering fields.
Three bootcamps were created by the local community college to level the playing field and help minority and female youth take their first steps in future STEM occupations.
Two of these bootcamps will revolve around machine tool and welding that will eventually lead into mechanical engineering.
Another bootcamp will focus on engineering design that will yield into industrial engineering. Please note that this particular bootcamp is currently filled.
"Often students and parents do not realize that many of our two-year associate degrees lead to four-year engineering degrees," said Director of Workforce Development Karen Ray. "At Drake State, students get hands-on opportunities that they otherwise may not get somewhere else."
The machine tool, engineering design, and welding bootcamps through MUREP begin Saturday, February 28. Each bootcamp is a free one-day event from 9 am to 4 pm, and will be providing lunch to those who attend.
Any parents who would like to register their child for one of the bootcamps can sign-up online here.