Youth Education Program Information

Interested in getting involved in a youth education program? ACEC WI's Public Relations Committee has gathered information from several different programs to help you get started. These programs have already been implemented in some of ACEC WI's Member Firms and have proved to be  successful.

Before choosing a program to implement, answer the following questions to help you get a better idea about what program is right for your firm.

• How many individuals from your firm would likely get involved?
• How many hours a year would your firm devote?
• Would you allow employees paid time toward a youth program?

Since there are so many successful programs already available, ACEC WI decided not to create another one, but to act as a conduit for member firms by providing information about the many programs available. Here are the programs ACEC WI has researched so far. Make sure to check back on a regular basis as more programs will be added.

• A World in Motion is a program developed to specifically target elementary and middle school students to pique their interest in math and science right at the time they normally turn away from these areas. Designed by the Society of Automotive Engineers Int'l (SAE), the program joins together teachers, students, and volunteer engineers and scientists in an exploration of physical science. Children enjoy the hands-on activities and teachers value the program's interdisciplinary curriculum supplements in which math, science, engineering, and social studies are all integrated into one unit plan. Seeking corporations to form partnerships between businesses and classrooms is an on going challenge. Volunteer engineers play an essential role in motivating the next generation to pursue careers in science and engineering. Visit www.sae.org/foundation/awim for information on how to get involved.
  

• ACE Mentor Program is an after school program that gives high school students a hands on introduction to architecture, construction management, and engineering. The program matches high school students with ACE professionals, or mentors, who volunteer their time and energy. They show students where and how they work, the skills they use, and some of their projects under construction. They also help students design an actual project. Mentors from participating companies adopt a team of 20-30 high school students for the school year, meeting with the team every 2 weeks for 2 hours after school. For more information, visit www.acementor.org. 
  

• Business World, a division of the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is a 4-day opportunity designed to teach high school students about the challenges facing business and our free enterprise system. This unique program brings young people and business volunteers from across the state together to translate textbook theories into understandable practices. Students learn the importance of business, and from a practical standpoint, what it takes to succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The next session is July 17-20, at UW-La Crosse. For more information, visit www.wischamberfoundation.org.

• The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) combines the excitement of sport with science and technology to create a unique varsity sport for the mind.  FRC helps high school students discover the rewarding and engaging process of innovation and engineering.  Students "play with the pros" and work with professional engineer-mentors to design and build robots to earn a spot at the world championship and qualify for $8 million in scholarship funds.  FRC is a fascinating, real world, professional experience that helps students see the value of education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.  The program is a life changing, career molding experience, and a lot of fun.  Many students say that it is the hardest fun they have ever had.  For more information on FIRST visit www.usfirst.org.  To get involved and support Wisconsin teams contact Michael Wittman and More Robotics at morerobotics@execpc.com.
  

• Future City Competition is a national competition sponsored by Engineers Week. The program is developed for 7th and 8th grade students to help them discover and foster interests in math, science, and engineering. The goal is to design and build a city of the future using SimCity software. It's a challenging and stimulating program for everyone involved. Each team is made up of 3 students, an engineer/mentor, and a teacher. The role of the engineer/mentor is to provide technical assistance to the team. The registration deadline is in October and regional competitions take place in January. For more information, visit www.eweek.org.  
  

• MATHCOUNTS is a national math enrichment, coaching, and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievements through grassroots involvement in every US state and territory. With over 21 years of experience, MATHCOUNTS is one of the most successful education partnerships involving volunteers, educators, industry sponsors, and students. After several months of coaching, participating schools select students to compete individually or as part of a team in one of the many written and oral competitions held nationwide. Winners at the local level proceed to state competitions. The top 4 Mathletes and top coach earn the right to represent their state at the national level. Registration forms are available August through September. For more information, visit www.mathcounts.org. 
  

• Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a national non-profit organization established to help schools give students the knowledge they need to excel in high-tech fields. Studies of PLTW's curriculum have proven that PLTW students become the kind of prepared, competent, high-tech employees US industry needs to stay competitive in the global market. A growing number of schools across the country are finding that PLTW's pre-engineering curriculum for middle and high school is a simple solution. With its strong partnership concept, PLTW leverages the collective knowledge and efforts of secondary schools, colleges and universities, and industry to give students rigorous, relevant, reality based knowledge to better prepare them for college. Engineering firms can get involved by forming a partnership with a nearby school and assisting teachers with the curriculum. They can also provide internships for students in the program, donate equipment and supplies needed for the curriculum, and encourage schools not in the program to get involved. For more information, visit www.pltw.org. 
  

• Rube Goldberg Machine Contest brings the ideas of Pulitzer Prize winning artist Rube Goldberg's "Invention" cartoons to life. This Olympics of Complexity is designed to pull students away from conventional problem solving and push them into the endless chaos of imagination and intuitive thought. Groups are given an elementary challenge, something as simple as peeling an apple. But instead of just solving the problem, students have to make the solution as complicated and as convoluted as possible. The more steps, the better the Rube Goldberg Machine. The Milwaukee Colleges of Engineering Partnership hosted the national contest for high schools in April 2005. Corporate sponsors for last year's competition included Earth Tech and Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer & Associates. For more information, visit www.rube-goldberg.com. 

Has your firm participated in a youth education program not listed here? If so, contact ACEC WI at acecwi@acecwi.org to add your youth education program to this list.