Engage! 9 High School Students Win OU Engineering Scholarships at Open House

-

OU ENGINEERING OPEN HOUSE

Unpredictable weather couldn’t stop Oklahoma high school students from learning about engineering principles and concepts at the Gallogly College of Engineering’s 110th Engineering Open House on March 4. 

More than 300 high school students attended the event that helped students explore engineering concepts with their teachers before even enrolling in college, says Dalton Brasington, coordinator of engineering outreach and recruitment. “This year, student teams designed, prototyped and tested a device in advance and then brought their best-performing product to campus to compete against other teams,” he said.

Gallogly College of Engineering’s 110th Engineering Open House
Each Engineering Design Challenge winner received an OU Engineering scholarship. They are: Egg Drop: Layne Spaulding and Josiah Medina (Mid-America Technology Center); Design, Build, Fly Glider: Josue Chapa (Great Plains Technology Center); Model Bridge: Abigail Allison and Samantha Groves (Bridge Creek High School; and Recycling Sorter: Caleaha Sparks, Eren Tecimer, Evan Shepherd and Micah Shoemake (Moore Norman Technology Center).

Students from Altus, Buffalo, Duncan, Lawton, Maud, Moore, Norman, Oklahoma City, Purcell, Tahlequah, Tulsa and Vian, and 10 other communities from across the state participated in a variety of activities. Under the tutelage of engineering faculty and students, they designed a roller coaster, studied how building materials react to weather conditions or programmed a robot. 

“Seeing students draw connections to everyday engineering is powerful. When we talk about what building materials are better or worse for withstanding a hailstorm, students immediately connect with that,” said Dylan Portillo, OU chemical engineering senior.

The Engineering Open House is one of several precollegiate programs hosted by the Office of Engineering Pathways, says Susan Walden, executive director of the Engineering Pathways program. “Our events include campus visits, summer camps and much more. They allow students to gain an understanding of what engineering is and what they could pursue when they come to college,” she said.

Gallogly College of Engineering’s 110th Engineering Open House
Randa Shehab, the college's senior associate dean of academic affairs added, “Creating pathways for students to learn about engineering is vitally important. The Engineering Pathways program helps equip the next generation of Oklahoma students with the tools for choosing and graduating an engineer.”

The Engineering Open House is one way that the Gallogly College of Engineering supports STEM learning across Oklahoma. Activities are hosted by the Engineering Pathways office, the Boggs Family Sooner Engineering Education Center ambassadors, OU student volunteers and various engineering student organizations. 

This year's sponsors included McAlister’s Deli and Underground Printing Norman. The OU Office of Admissions and Recruitment also provided high school students with information about financial aid and the university’s admissions process. 

Learn more about K-12 outreach programs at www.ou.edu/coe/K-12 or email dbrasington@ou.edu. 


Popular posts from this blog

OU Engineering Students Shine in Community Projects

-
Image
At the University of Oklahoma, a transformative course called Pathways to Engineering Thinking is leaving a mark on OU students and the community. In the first-year engineering course, over 800 students across 16 sections collaborated to tackle real-world challenges presented by community partners. Their projects ranged from developing prosthetic limbs for injured animals to creating innovative solutions for community gardens and zoos. The course aims to guide students through the engineering design process, emphasizing collaborative teamwork and problem-solving skills.  This semester’s projects reached many areas of the community. Partnerships with the OU Food Pantry, OU Community Garden, Oklahoma City Zoo, OU Engineering K-12 Outreach, a local dog rescue and the City of Norman provided students with real-world challenges to address. Each team delved into issues presented by the partners, working toward delivering functional design solutions by the semester’s end. The heart of the cou
Read more

OU Students Take on Habitat Challenge: Sooners Without Borders Constructs Ramp, More in Iowa

-
Image
In early January, six students from Sooners Without Borders at the University of Oklahoma headed to Des Moines, Iowa, teaming up with Habitat for Humanity. Their goal: construct an accessibility ramp for a local family. Their mission was part of Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge program, providing year-round volunteer opportunities for college students. The students, all from the Gallogly College of Engineering at OU, embraced the challenge. Formerly Engineers Without Borders, Sooners Without Borders had changed its name to be more inclusive of all majors at OU, says Lisa Morales, the group's staff adviser. “A lot of projects used to focus on clean water and students had the opportunity to travel abroad. Once Covid happened, we had to shift the focus of Sooner Without Borders,” Morales said.  In Des Moines, the project expanded beyond the ramp, involving tasks like installing kitchen cabinets and flooring for a new home. Morales says she was impressed with the student’s adeptness with
Read more

OU Engineering Welcomes 14 New Faculty Members for 2023-24

-
Image
OU Engineering has welcomed 14 new faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year. This marks a milestone in the college's growth journey, with faculty numbers increasing from just over 100 in 2017 to 175 in 2023. OU Engineering is committed to expanding its faculty ranks, aiming for over 200 faculty members by the 2025-26 academic year, says OU Engineering Dean John Klier. To achieve this goal, the college has initiated more than 20 faculty searches. The State of Oklahoma continues to acknowledge the need for more engineers. They recently responded to OU Engineering’s request for additional recurring funding. The funding will play a crucial role in offering undergraduate student tuition waivers, supporting graduate students and helping recruit new faculty and staff. These positions will be phased in over the next three years. "OU Engineering extends its gratitude for the ongoing support from the State of Oklahoma as it continues to address the growing demand for engineers,&quo
Read more