This summer, OSU Institute of Technology welcomed 33 eighth through tenth-grade students to the campus to participate in the weeklong Emerging & Converging Technologies Summer Academy.

The free four-day academy, funded by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, applied math and science skills while participating in hands-on lab exercises in several different programs offered at OSUIT.

The summer academy provided students the college experience by participating in activities in several programs, staying overnight in student residence halls and eating in the Cowboy Café among college students.

"Under the guidance of Angie Been, middle- and high-school students explored the OSUIT campus. They created extension cords with the help of the Air Conditioning & Refrigeration faculty, cooked a delicious omelet and folded napkins in Culinary Arts and dressed wounds in Nursing," said Dr. Lisa Weis, dean of the School of Arts, Sciences & Health. "The one-week interactive learning experience introduced students to a world of academics and industry of which many were unaware. A big thank you goes out to Angie and the LASSO Center crew for providing these students with such an enriching experience!"

Students went "on the job" with programs from each of the four schools on the OSUIT campus. They participated in an escape room in Information Technologies, created 3D characters in 3D Modeling & Animation, made dog tags in Engineering Graphics & Design Drafting, practiced assessments on patient simulators in Nursing and built a solar and an Arduino robotic car in Science, just to name a few.

"This summer academy was absolutely the most fun, creative, and educational summer camp. I definitely want to come back as a mentor," said student participant Atriya Nourbakhsh.

Another student participant, Ashlyn Payne, also expressed interest in returning next year as a mentor.

"I really liked this academy because it taught me about my dreams and gave me more information on what I want to do for a career," she said. "I met some amazing people and became friends with many of them."

Angie Been, who organizes OSUIT's summer academy, was happy to welcome back the summer academy this year. Last year's event was canceled due to the pandemic.

"The students were able to experience dorm life, campus life and learn they want to find a career and not a job," said Been. "Overall, the academy was a success, and we look forward to hosting more in the future."