WRITER: Allison Brady, engr_media@nmsu.edu
Grade school students from Las Cruces attended New Mexico State University for a week-long summer program hosted by the NMSU College of Engineering.
NM PREP Academy is a summer camp for young students who show an early interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, particularly engineering. The program offered two sessions, one aimed at high school students and one at middle school students, giving each group unique insights into various labs and activities.
“The goals of the NM PREP Academy are to spark interest and engage young middle and high schoolers with in-depth engineering skills and introduce them to labs and professors on campus,” said Justin Butt, STEM outreach program specialist. “We strive to build good connections and educate future Aggies with technical and soft skills and ultimately help them build their confidence with hands-on activities that simulate real-world engineering experiences.”
While on campus, the students got the chance to explore the NMSU College of Engineering and get an idea of what professional engineers are working on. They also had the opportunity to travel outside Las Cruces to other parts of New Mexico, where significant developments in STEM are underway.
Students were guided through engineering labs in robotics, food science, 3D printing and more. While the program is meant to expand their academic knowledge of engineering, the program aimed to engage and allow students to explore the creative elements of STEM.
“They taught us a lot about engineering,” said Elisa Bai, a student at Sierra Middle School. “We went to a lot of different places and learned about different tools. I liked the robots and Taos (restaurant at NMSU), but I thought the coding was fun.”
Not only do students at NM PREP Academy get the opportunity to hone their engineering and science skills, they also get to work on their interpersonal skills. Collaboration, leadership and presentation are integral to the course, and academy leaders hope students take those skills with them into their future academic careers.
Throughout the week, the students were placed into small groups where they were encouraged to work with and help one another. Jerret Bales, who will begin attending Rio Grande Prep, said his favorite part of the program was the support he felt from the people around him.
“My favorite part was probably the people,” Bales said. “A lot of the people were really, really uplifting and wanting to help and understanding.”
Programs like NM PREP Academy allow for young students in New Mexico to continue their education during the summer and build connections with peers who share their same dedication to learning.
“They meet new people and face challenges outside of their normal comfort zones and overcome those obstacles together,” Butt said. “This makes for better students and better future engineers. Being an engineer is more than knowing science and math; it’s knowing how to communicate in teams and work together with people who don't think the same way as you do. If we continue to invest in programs like PREP, we continue to invest in the future of NMSU and the future of the College of Engineering.”
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CUTLINE: NM PREP Academy is a summer program hosted by New Mexico State University's College of Engineering for young Las Cruces students interested in STEM. While attending, students get the opportunity to get hands-on experience in various engineering disciplines like coding, additive manufacturing, robotics and mechanics, to name a few. (NMSU photo by Justin Butt)
Description: Middle school students posing for a group photo in front of a full-scale steam engine outside a building.
CUTLINE: High school students attending New Mexico State University’s NM PREP Academy listen to a lab technician in a chemical engineering laboratory. This was part of one of the many activities they attended during the summer camp. (NMSU photo by Justin Butt)
Description: High school students attending NM PREP Academy are gathered around a machine in a chemical engineering lab while listening to an instructor.
CUTLINE: Middle school students attending NM PREP Academy listen to a New Mexico State University engineering professor while gathered around an electric car. This was part of one of the many activities they attended during the summer camp. (NMSU photo by Justin Butt)
Description: Middle school students attending NM PREP Academy are gathered around a red electric car in a mechanical engineering lab while they listen to an instructor.