Wow! It's hard to believe that Next Engineers completed its 2nd year already! The year was filled with hands-on Discovery activities, immersive Camp sessions, and creative Academy design challenges. Let's take a look at Year 2 in Review!
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In Next Engineers' second year, GE Volunteers spent 5,689 hours supporting students, providing coaching, taking students on tours, and offering feedback on their design projects. Interacting with real-life engineers gives students insight into what it's like to be an engineer and provides them with the opportunity to see themselves following the same career path.
Engineering Discovery held 70 events and provided 6,841 students with opportunities to explore engineering through activities like designing bridges, creating their own codes, and moving the toxic popcorn without touching it. Working as teams, students loved being able to "create ideas with friends" and "failing and creating new and better designs." Across all sites, 80% of students reported an increased interest in engineering after a Discovery activity.
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“The students asked a ton of questions. I loved the experience and I wish I would’ve started earlier.” – Greenville Volunteer
Engineering Camp hosted 765 students, 65% of whom were from underrepresented populations, in immersive, week-long experiences in which students toured university campuses, worked in teams to complete design projects, and spoke with academic and professional engineers about their career pathways. 94% of students were satisfied with their experience, and 81% wanted to attend Engineering Academy.
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182 students began Engineering Academy this year, joining the 199 from cohort 1. Across cohorts 1 and 2, 70% of students are from underrepresented populations, and attendance is 90% or higher at all four sites. Throughout the year, Next Engineers partners kept Academy students engaged in real-life-inspired design challenges, including building their own hydroponic systems, optimizing lightweight gliders, designing mousetrap-powered cars, and much more. Students also learned valuable college and career readiness skills like communication and teamwork, both from their design challenge teams, and from activities like Building Your Presentation Skills.
Students shared:
“The facilitators helped me acknowledge that anything is possible when you put effort into it.” –Johannesburg Academy student
“Everything we have done, from ‘mousetrap cars’ through touring the University, has been unbelievable.” – Staffordshire Academy student
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With everything Next Engineers accomplished in Year 2, we're even more excited about Year 3! Our first Academy cohort will be graduating soon, and Global Discovery continues to reach new locations, bringing engineering to more students around the world. It's amazing to watch students learn and grow through Next Engineers, and we can't wait to see what kind of worlds they'll build next!
View full infographic here.
