Continued funding support bodes well for the expansion of the Gateway Academy, a nationwide summer engineering camp for middle school students now offered in 25 states
Robotics, rockets, gliders and eco design is the lexicon for middle school students attending summer engineering camps offered by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation.
An award of $60,000 from the Emerson Charitable Trust to the SME Education Foundation made it possible for the expansion of Gateway Academy engineering camps to 25 states during the summer of 2008 including Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina where Emerson has facilities.
Emerson is a diversified global manufacturing company that brings technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses.
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Glen Pearson, president of the SME Education Foundation says, “Emerson’s generous funding will greatly impact our efforts in transforming and advancing manufacturing education in a critical area – youth programs.”
The continued annual financial support received from the Emerson Charitable Trust to the SME Education Foundation assured 2008 Gateway Academies at Hazelwood North Middle School, Florissant, St. Louis, Mo., Thomas Worthington High School, Worthington, OH, and Strom Thurmond High School & Career Center, Johnston (near Aiken), S.C.
The funding also supported the Science, Technology & Engineering Preview Summer (STEPS) Camp for 7th and 8th grade students held near Emerson facilities. The camps were offered in conjunction with the Girl Scouts, St. Louis Chapter and at St. Louis Community College, St. Louis, MO.
Robert Cox, senior vice president, Administration, Emerson says, “Emerson supports giving young people an opportunity to recognize their potential. We believe in supporting the quality and resourcefulness of our educational systems at all levels.”
The concept of the Gateway Academy was created in a partnership between the SME Education Foundation and Project Lead the Way® (PLTW), a not-for-profit organization that promotes pre-engineering courses for middle and high school students.
In 2008, the SME Education Foundation held 170 Gateway Academies and reached over 3,000 students in 25 states. Their goal is to increase to 210 Gateway Academies by 2010.
The Gateway weeklong program allows campers to work together in a fun and exciting environment. Students brainstorm ideas, solve problems and learn the basics of engineering involving robotics, electronics and aerodynamics and building and then operating their own robotic vehicles, gliders and rockets.