Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2005

Contact: Lisa Merkl
713.743.8192 (office)
713.605.1757 (pager)

HOUSTON, March 31, 2005 – The University of Houston is taking steps to level the playing field of engineering for females who are considering a career in this area of study.

Now in its third year, GRADE (Girls Reaching and Demonstrating Excellence) Camp, a summer camp for high school girls entering grades 9 through 12, is now taking applications. Offered by the UH Cullen College of Engineering, GRADE Camp continues to provide a much-needed resource to support this often underrepresented demographic in the field of engineering.

“GRADE Camp is an excellent opportunity for high school females who are either curious about or want more experience with engineering,” said Jenny Ruchhoeft, program director for GRADE. “Participants not only get to interact with female engineering students and faculty, but also get to speak candidly with female engineers working in the Houston area. And that’s just the networking and continuity aspect. The crux of the camp is the robotics project.”

In the mornings, UH faculty members teach GRADE campers about underlying engineering theory, such as voltage and currents, motors and generators, and feedback control. They then apply that knowledge during the labs each afternoon. In addition to having a working, autonomous robot at the end of the week, the girls have a solid understanding of their robots’ inner-workings and fundamental mechanics.

“The whole camp is very hand’s on and is lots of fun,” Ruchhoeft said. “Plus, we cater the program to girls at all levels of engineering knowledge and confidence. They are mentored by Society of Women Engineers (SWE) undergraduates and receive as much or as little guidance as needed. Girls can even request to be paired up with a friend.”

On the last day of the camp, the girls present their week’s work to parents and teachers. As a result of seeing what the campers learned, many have requested that the camp expand. Plans currently are under way to create an alternate curriculum for the summer of 2006 to showcase environmental engineering.

Even after GRADE Camp is finished, participants are encouraged to foster long-term connections with professional engineers through events such as the Texas Space Center SWE holiday party. Last year, Bonnie Dunbar, NASA astronaut and UH engineering graduate, was the featured speaker at the party.

“Education is the cornerstone of our civilization,” Dunbar said. “The pursuit of science and engineering provides the framework for our quality of life and the exploration of new worlds.”

Four camps will be offered during the summer of 2005: June 20-24, June 27-July 1, July 11-15 and July 18-22. Each weeklong camp costs $200, and camp scholarship applications are available for students with financial needs. All girls who complete the camp become eligible for a one-time $1,000 scholarship if they decide to attend UH, enrolling in an engineering, natural science or mathematics major their freshman year. GRADE Camp is funded through grants from Texas Workforce Development and the National Science Foundation.

“Providing knowledge about what engineering is and which math and science high school courses are needed before applying to an undergraduate engineering program helps girls make strategic, informed choices,” said Eloisa Avalos, one of the camp’s mentors. “I went from one major to another until I found engineering, because I didn’t know about it when I started college. That’s what is great about this camp – they’ll know what it is coming in.”

For more information, visit http://www.egr.uh.edu/camps/grade.

About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.

About the Cullen College of Engineering
UH Cullen College of Engineering has produced five U.S. astronauts, ten members of the National Academy of Engineering, and degree programs that have ranked in the top ten nationally. With more than 2,600 students, the college offers accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical, chemical, civil and environmental, electrical and computer, industrial, and mechanical engineering. It also offers specialized programs in aerospace, materials, petroleum engineering and telecommunications.

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