University of Arkansas

 

Engineering Summer Academy

The Engineering Summer Academy (ESA) program is a one-week residential engineering academy for students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grade.  Students will live in a dormitory on the University of Arkansas campus.  This intensive, summer academy challenges you to explore a specific area of engineering.  You will do hands-on activities in our cutting-edge labs working alongside engineering faculty and current students.  Space is limited!  Students will be chosen based upon their application. 

Eligibility:

• Students must be entering the 10th, 11th or 12th grade for the 2013-2014 school year
• Completed the online application form and mail program commitment fee (or scholarship application) and completed teacher recommendation form

Camp Dates and Times:

• July 28 - August 3, 2013 
• Check-In:  12:00pm - 2:00pm Sunday, July 28, 2013
• Check-Out:  9:00am - 11:00am Saturday August 3, 2013

Cost:

• The camp costs only $650 for the entire week.  This covers tuition, room and board, lab fees, course materials, recreational program costs, evening entertainment and field trips. 
• A commitment fee of $350 is required at the time of application.  Students will be asked to pay the remaining balance upon acceptance into the program.
• Scholarships are available!

Application:

• Application deadline is Friday, May 10, 2013 and can be found here.
• Notification of acceptance will be mailed by Friday, May 17, 2013
• If the program fee is a financial burden, please complete and submit the scholarship application. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of financial need, as long as funds are available.

Course Selection:

• ESA is offering three program selections for Summer 2013. 
  • How's it Done--Chemical Engineering Style (Maximum of 20 students) 
    • Chemical engineers use their knowledge of chemistry and their problem solving skills to do many things, such as producing biofuels, developing new cancer treatments and finding safe and efficient ways to make everyday products like cleaning supplies and food additives. During this one-week summer program, you will have a chance to explore these engineering topics hands-on:
    • Making salt water drinkable--Build and test your own membrane, and use reverse osmosis to desalinate water.
    • Power a car with chemistry--Explore how chemical engineers are making biodiesel and ethanol from algae, and find the best way to extract fermentable sugars from this plant.
    • Learn about biomedical engineering—Find out how to remove clots from clogged arteries and investigate methods for time-releasing drugs into the body.
  • Razorback Solar Boat Competition (Maximum of 40 students) 
    • Imagine seeing the boat that you and some friends just built crossing the finish line, winning the 2013 Razorback Solar Boat Competition. At the solar energy camp, student teams design and build a solar-powered boat, using real engineering tools and skills. Students in the mechanical group construct the boat’s hull and assemble the hardware, learning about buoyancy, weight distribution, engine placement and hull design. The electrical engineering students learn about DC circuit fundamentals, circuit schematics, multimeter use, soldering iron use, energy conversion, and radio control systems. They use these concepts to construct and integrate solar panels for the boats. At the end of the camp, students demonstrate their boats in a competition modeled on the collegiate Solar Splash competition.
  • Computer Science/Computer Engineering (Maximum of 15 students)
    • Cell phones, personal computers, cars and more are all becoming a part of every day life.  Did you know that your cell phone is more powerful than the world's first computer?  If you're curious about the way these devices work, the 201 Computer Science/Computer Engineering program is for you.  Students will learn about the circuits that run digital devices, and the software that makes them "smart".  This program will be an introduction to computer science and computer engineering, which focus on writing programs and designing hardware, respectively.

Recommendation:

• A recommendation form from a current math or science teacher must accompany your application.  Your application will not be considered without a recommendation form.  Please ask your teacher to complete the recommendation form.
  • Click here to download the recommendation form!

Refund Information:

• If the student is not selected for the program, their $350 commitment fee will be refunded immediately
• Cancellations received after June 1, 2013 will result in a $100 processing fee.  No refunds will be given after July 1, 2013.

Will I need any additional money while at ESA?

• Your program fee does not include the cost of transportation to and from the University of Arkansas or personal spending money

What should I wear?

• Wear what you usually wear to school.  Please note that closed toed shoes are required in the labs.  Chemical engineering students are required to wear long pants and closed toe shoes during day activities. The University of Arkansas is a large campus, so you will do a lot of walking—wear comfortable shoes. 

What should I bring?

• Once accepted into the program, a packet will be mailed to you including information on what to bring

Where will I be housed?

• ESA participants will be housed in a University of Arkansas residence hall.  Male and female students live on separate floors in the same building.  Students will be assigned roommates by the ESA staff.  The residence hall is a secure building, meaning that only students with proper identification can enter the building.  The residential mentors provide 24-hour supervision during the program.  The residential component allows participants to get a taste of college residential life, as well as giving them the opportunity to develop lasting friendships with other students.

Contact Us:

For more information, please contact Eric Specking, Director of Undergraduate Recruitment, at 479-575-7780 or especki@uark.edu.