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Summer Engineering Academy (SEA), an innovative university- industry partnership to improve the recruitment of qualified high-school students into engineering disciplines R. Umashankar, T.A. Anderson, C.Y. Choi, A. Ortega, R. Vaidyanathan, G. Artz, M. Platero, and R. Sharma University of Arizona / Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc. / Raytheon Missile Systems

Abstract

To improve the number of qualified high school students entering into engineering disciplines, the University of Arizona (UA) and local businesses have created a program called the Summer Engineering Academy or (SEA). The SEA program has proven to be highly successful during the summers of 1999 and 2000. The idea behind the SEA program is to show students how a concept becomes reality. On this program, student teams designed and rapid prototyped aerodynamic vehicles using SolidWorks™ and Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) for Computer Aided Design (CAD) and rapid prototyping (RP), respectively.

In 1999, two groups of 35 freshmen-sophomores and 47 junior-seniors participated, while in the 2000 program, 52 freshmen-sophomores and 40 junior-seniors attended. Out of the students who attended the program in 1999, 27 students from the senior batch have enrolled in the University of Arizona engineering programs. In both of the programs, 68 female students and 57 students from under-represented groups participated. The students were taught concepts of materials science, aerodynamics, CAD, and rapid prototyping by faculty from UA. The students visualized and modeled to prepare CAD files of the cars. The parts were built using a Fused Deposition Modeler. The vehicles were then tested in a wind tunnel and prizes were awarded for the best aerodynamic design. The students also toured the ACR and Raytheon rapid prototyping facilities during the weeklong program. The design and model competition results were presented to the parents and faculty members of the College of Engineering.

Introduction

The recent explosive growth in computer power and connectivity is reshaping relationships among people and organizations, and transforming the processes of discovery, learning and communication [1]. Technologies such as computer-aided manufacturing hold much promise for educating and training a workforce for the new millenium. In the 21st century, American competitiveness and worker prosperity will be tied to the education and skill attainment of the workforce [2]. Future workers will need to update their knowledge and skills continuously. Dynamic partnerships and collaborations are essential to ensure that all Americans have affordable and convenient access to acquiring the knowledge necessary for the 21st century economy. The economic health of the Nation and the individual well being rest on the success of this team effort.

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright ©2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Vaidyanathan, R., & Anderson, T., & Umashankar, R., & Sharma, R., & Platero, M., & Artz, G., & Choi, C., & Ortega, A. (2001, June), Summer Engineering Academy (Sea), An Innovative University Industry Partnership To Improve The Recruitment Of Qualified High School Students Into Engineering Disciplines Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9825