Summer engineering program fosters genuine interest for high school students

Engineering Innovation http://engineering-innovation.jhu.edu/ , which Johns Hopkins has taken nationwide since 2006, is designed to encourage students to pursue careers in engineering and science. According to the university, 90 percent of students who participate in the summer program continue on that path.

High school students Aszurtoine Gunter-Fields and Terrell Ford built a bridge that just wouldn’t break.

Using only spaghetti, epoxy resin and glue, the rising seniors at Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter High School engineered a bridge Friday that withstood nearly 58 pounds before collapsing.

The project was the culmination of a four-week Johns Hopkins University program for high school students held at the University of the District of Columbia. Aszurtoine and Terrell were among 10 District students who participated in the program, in which professors compact a semester-long freshman engineering course into four weeks for college credit.

By Rick Rojas
Washington Post Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073006142.html?hpid=sec-tech