OU Engineering's Summer Bridge Program Sees Record-Breaking Participation

-


The Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma concluded its annual Summer Bridge Program on Aug. 4. The four-week on-campus initiative, designed for incoming freshman students with an interest in engineering, has seen a record-breaking number of participants this year.

The program helps prepare students for the academic rigors of engineering coursework. It offers course credit, team-building exercises and developmental seminars. Students take classes such as calculus and Introduction to engineering. They also participate in a team-based engineering design project, providing them with hands-on experience and a glimpse into their first semester of college.

“We are incredibly proud of all the participants and their achievements at Summer Bridge,” said Brandon Abbott, the program’s director. “This program not only provides academic preparation but also fosters a sense of community and engineering identity. We look forward to continuing to support and empower future engineering students.”

The Summer Bridge Program also emphasizes the development of engineering identity and community, particularly among historically underserved groups. This year, the program welcomed 53 student attendees, most of whom were residents of Oklahoma or Texas, with one student from Virginia. The program also had the largest staff in its history, with 24 undergraduate students serving as counselors, tutors and mentors.

A highlight of this year's program was the team-based engineering design project. Student teams were tasked with designing and building a water treatment system for a specific water source and end-use. The project showcase and closing ceremony, held Aug. 4, allowed the teams to display their achievements.

Several students were recognized and awarded scholarships for their outstanding work in various categories of the engineering design project during the closing ceremony. Recipients are:

Best Water Filter Performance:

Jaden Flores, Fort Worth, Texas

Darrius Gardner, Pearland, Texas

Justice Hayden, Mountain View, Oklahoma

Jael Lopez, Fort Worth, Texas

Daniel Park, Oklahoma City

Best Poster Performance:

Lailani Beltran-Hodge, Edmond, Oklahoma

Lauren Boerm, Houston

Zachary Finkelstein, Fort Worth, Texas

Ryan Robinson, Chickasha, Oklahoma

Tavion Smith, McKinney, Texas

Award of Excellence:

Georgette Bampoe, Oklahoma City

Hannah Graesser, Katy, Texas

Joshua Frechette Rivera, Moore, Oklahoma

Christian Sink, Carnegie, Oklahoma

Ashlyn Ward, Tuttle, Oklahoma 

“We are incredibly proud of all the participants and their achievements during the Gallogly College of Engineering Diversity and Inclusion Summer Bridge Program,” said Brandon S. Abbott, director of Summer Bridge, Diversity and Inclusion Program. “This program not only provides academic preparation but also fosters a sense of community and engineering identity. We look forward to continuing to support and empower future engineering students.”

Photo album here. 

Learn more about OU Engineering.

By Lorene A. Roberson, Gallogly College of Engineering





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