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Drake State Stories & News

Local school kids successfully complete STEM bootcamps at Drake State

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Drake State Community and Technical College successfully hosted free STEM bootcamps for local school kids. On February 26, the 34 middle and high school bootcamp students walked away with new technical skills that could lead to science and engineering careers.

“I took a welding class at Bob Jones High School,” said Welding Bootcamp high school student Cameron Cummings. “I really enjoyed welding. I want to go into computer engineering, so welding is like soldering on a bigger scale. That was one of the main reasons why I got into this.”

The students participated in the Welding, Engineering Design, or Machine Tool Bootcamp. Drake State’s multi-year grant from NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) made these bootcamps possible. This award supports minority-serving institutions working to increase the number of racially or ethnically underrepresented students, and female students in STEM occupations.

“All the designs that they would produce as an engineer one day would have to be machined,” said Machine Tool Instructor Tyler Williams. “The bootcamp allowed students to experience how intricate parts are produced. Working with these young students allowed them to see themselves in a hands-on and highly skilled career.”