Making Connections
A traveling science show, summer engineering camps, and Engineering Open House are just a few of the ways students--from grade school to high school--can explore their interests in science and engineering and discover career directions. Following are a just few of the recurring events and programs offered by faculty, staff, and students in the College of Engineering. Please explore the Web links for more information, dates, and contacts.

Engineering Advocates
Engineering students make presentations at middle schools and high schools in order to increase awareness about different engineering majors and potential career paths. Engineering Advocates also holds one-day workshops to introduce Girl Scouts to engineering concepts through hands-on activities.

Engineering Majors Fair
High School students spend a day at the University of Illinois attending classes, visiting labs, touring the engineering campus, and talking to engineering students.

Engineering Open House
This two-day event is one of the nation’s largest science fairs. More than 130 student exhibits, several corporate events, four design contests, and guest lectures are featured. Many of the exhibits are hands-on and allow visitors to learn by doing.

Engineering Your Future
Women high school students, parents, and teachers have an opportunity to explore different fields of engineering and learn about scholarships, financial aid, and the College of Engineering.

Girls’ Adventures in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science (GAMES)
The GAMES Summer Camp is designed to give academically talented middle school girls an opportunity to explore math, engineering, and science through demonstrations, classroom presentations, hands-on activities, and interactions with other women in these technical fields.

Illinois Aerospace Institute
This one-week program for high school students offers classroom and hands-on experiences in propulsion systems, theory of flight, aerodynamics, and principles of aircraft and spacecraft design.

Materials Science and Engineering
High school seniors tour labs, see materials demonstrations, and meet university students and professors.

Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
Representatives from this department visit Illinois high schools to discuss the types and uses of nuclear reactions and radiation for applications from nuclear power generation to medical imaging and procedures.

Physics Van Outreach Program
Physics students explode, freeze, and electrify materials in exciting experiments that demonstrate basic science principles to elementary school students.

Also catch program leader Prof. Mats A. Selen as The Why's Guy on WCIA-3 TV Morning Show, Wednesdays, approximately 6:45 a.m. and 7:05 a.m.

Student Introduction to Engineering
Engineering Council sponsors this weekend event to give prospective engineering students an opportunity to attend classes, meet with current students, and explore the College of Engineering.

SWE Little Sisters Weekend
The Society of Women Engineers hosts female high school students who have been admitted to the College of Engineering for the following academic year. Each prospective student is assigned a big sister (a female engineering student) and attends classes and special events.

Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
This program for high school juniors and seniors provides an introduction to the Engineering Mechanics Program. Students also tour laboratories and meet current students and professors.

Women in Engineering Day
Prospective women high school juniors and seniors visit campus, attend classes, meet engineering students, and stay overnight in the Women in Math, Science and Engineering (WIMSE) living learning community. wie@uiuc.edu or 217/244-3517.

Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering, (various activities)
Exploring Your Options is a week-long residential program that introduces high school sophomores and juniors to the field of engineering.  Participants interact with engineering students and faculty members, plan and build a project, and engage in other hands-on activities. The Academic Challenge is a scholastic competition to encourage higher student achievement in academic areas relevant to careers in science and engineering disciplines. Schools may enter teams and individual students.

This list was adapted from materials developed by the College of Engineering, Women in Engineering Office.