March 18, 2005

Camp seeks to open technology fields to high school juniors

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue's College of Technology is reaching out to high school students to help increase awareness of technology-oriented careers.

The college will bring 24 high school juniors to Purdue's West Lafayette campus from March 24-26 for the Vision program, where they will experience hands-on activities in a wide range of technology areas, including biotechnology, computer technology, computer graphics technology, mechanical engineering technology and organizational leadership and supervision. The Vision program is open to all high school juniors with an interest in technology fields.

"While this program is a good opportunity for all students, it is a particularly good opportunity for minority students who may not have considered technology as a possible career choice," said Antonia Munguia, College of Technology director of diversity. "At Purdue, we are working to encourage all students – no matter their background – to consider the wide range of career options the College of Technology can offer."

Part of the program will allow participants to work on hands-on activities from different departments in the College of Technology, including performing facial imaging scans in the biometrics laboratory, working with audio and electronics in an electrical engineering technology laboratory, using models in a Legos building exercise to create software applications, participating in team-building exercises with organizational leadership and supervision faculty and isolating DNA in a biotechnology laboratory.

Each activity will be taught by Purdue faculty and graduate students and show the students facets of technology education the high schoolers may not have been aware of or considered.

"As our students enter the global workforce, it is imperative that they are prepared to work with others from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives," Munguia said. "That preparation is an important part of a Purdue technology education, and that means it is essential to attract a wide range of students to the college."

Munguia said Vision would not be possible without the support of the Minority Technology Association. Members of this student group will not only serve as counselors for the program, accompanying the high schoolers on each activity and staying with them each night, but also helping to plan the program.

The group's president, Rachel Strong, a senior in electrical and computer engineering technology from South Bend, Ind., said she feels it is the responsibility of current students to help the students that will be following them to the College of Technology.

"The Vision program is a way to experience Purdue with college students who are already here," Strong said. "We want to keep this program going because it can impact the students' lives and make them want to go to college. They can ask questions of us, instead of just getting the information from their parents. If the students see and feel the Visions program, they will be more likely to believe they should go to college."

Students attending Vision will spend three days at Purdue, experiencing many aspects of college life. Besides classes, there will be recreational and social activities, as well as meetings with the university's admissions staff and a rap session where the students can ask questions and get advice from Minority Technology Association students.

Purdue's College of Technology, one of the nation's largest, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. One of the first of its kind in the country, the college educates more than 6,000 undergraduate students at eight locations throughout Indiana, including the West Lafayette campus.

The college comprises eight departments: aviation technology, building construction management, computer graphics technology, computer technology, electrical and computer engineering technology, industrial technology, mechanical engineering technology, and organizational leadership and supervision.

Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu

Source: Antonia Munguia, (765) 494-7522, amunguia@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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