Discovering Engineering: OU Welcomes High Schoolers

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About 80% of Engineering Days 2023 participants hail from towns across Oklahoma.
From left, Thomas Cuellar of Oklahoma City, Andrew Bomboy of Choctaw,
Ethan Schwartz of Tuttle, and Jackson Mejia of Norman. Photo album here.

In response to the demand for engineers, the Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma recently welcomed high school students to grow their interest in engineering. Known as Engineering Days, the college hosted over 200 students during an 11-day event in June.

Oklahoma is experiencing an urgent need for skilled engineers, with projections indicating that OU Engineering must graduate 900 students annually over the next five years to meet the demand, says Randa Shehab, Ph.D., the college’s senior associate dean.

“The importance of engaging students in real-world problem-solving and collaborating with faculty who are actively working on solutions benefits all Oklahomans,” Shehab said.

Since its inception in 2015, Engineering Days has been a flagship initiative that offers one-day learning experiences over four weekends in June. Students visit the OU Norman campus and engage in engineering projects taught by faculty members. Dalton Brasington, the college’s director of outreach and recruitment, oversees Engineering Days.

“Engineering Days exposes high school juniors and seniors to the world of engineering through exciting projects and dynamic learning environments. Each camp day focuses on a different discipline,” Brasington said.

This year, approximately 80% of participants hailed from various communities across Oklahoma, including Clinton, Edmond, Enid, Glenpool, Grove, Kiowa, Madill, Moore, Okemah, Wright City and Yukon. Students from Dallas, Houston and Midland, Texas, as well as Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska and Ohio, added to the program’s regional diversity. Notably, around 25% of this summer’s participants represented the first generation in their families to attend college.

Brasington underlines the significance of Engineering Days in providing equal opportunities to high school students who often lack access to engineering programs or may not consider engineering as a viable career path. “This lack of exposure is why Engineering Days was created more than a decade ago – to offer accessible and affordable experiences to young people,” he said.

Norman North High School student Taylor Salmond expressed enthusiasm for exploring the many engineering disciplines discussed at Engineering Days, with hopes of narrowing down her career options.

Reese Krebs, a student at the Classen School of Advanced Studies High School at Northeast, shared her passion for music, which she says prevented her from taking engineering courses during the school year. She joined Engineering Days to experience STEM activities and gain a better understanding of the possibilities that an engineering degree can offer

Thomas Cuellar, a homeschooled student from Oklahoma City, says he has a clear vision of pursuing engineering, inspired by his family’s background in the field.

Engineering Days 2023 remains an affordable opportunity for students, made possible through corporate partnerships, Shehab says. This year, Pioneer Natural Resources and Williams contributed to the camp's success.

About the Gallogly College of Engineering: Engineering has been part of the University of Oklahoma since 1908. Today, the Gallogly College of Engineering is organized into seven schools and is one of the largest colleges on the Norman campus. 

By Lorene A. Roberson, Gallogly College of Engineering 



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