College of Engineering hosts High School Scholars Program

June 26, 2008



Rowan Engineering hosts High School Scholars Program

Two dozen  students from area high schools will attend the Rowan University College of Engineering High School Scholars Program from July 8 to August 7.  The program will expose students selected from populations under-represented in technological fields — women and minorities  — to transportation engineering.

The Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education Program (GAMTTEP) is funding the High School Scholars Program through a $100,000 grant.  GAMTTEP, an initiative of the Federal Highway Administration, seeks to better prepare students —especially women and minorities — in science, math and technology through various activities related to transportation. GAMTTEP strives to satisfy the nation’s growing need for a skilled, diverse transportation workforce by sparking interest and spreading knowledge in various populations, according to the organization.

The College of Engineering partnered with the Millville Board of Education on the grant.  Through March, Millville and Rowan worked together to recruit students from 10th, 11th and 12th grades to fill the 24 slots in the program.

Those students will spend four weeks (Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) on campus, receiving a $1,500 stipend for their research activities with professors on topics such as Heavy Metal Contamination in Highway Marking Beads, Paving Recycled Waste, Passenger Safety in School Buses/Safety of Handicapped Passengers in School Buses, Solar Panels, Use of Kevlar for Road Construction Workers, and Bugpower: Fueling our Future with Microorganisms. Participants also will work on design projects on truss bridges, magnetic levitation trains and traffic signals, in honor of Garrett A. Morgan, who invented the three-position traffic signal.

In addition to conducting research, the students will gain work experience; attend educational seminars led by professionals; and learn from field trips to area bridges, airports and other transportation engineering-related structures.

Twelve professors from all four Rowan engineering disciplines (chemical, civil and environmental, electrical and computer, and mechanical) will participate in the program.  Each professor will contribute his or her own research topic for students.  These professors also will serve as mentors to students during and after the program. 

Each participant also will be partnered with a Rowan engineering student to help with immediate inquiries regarding engineering, Rowan and current research projects, as well as other general topics.


Note: Students will attend from:

•    Atlantic County Institute of Technology
•    Brimm Medical Arts High School (Camden)
•    Burlington County Institute of Technology
•    Camden High School
•    Cape May County Technical High School
•    Clearview Regional High School
•    Creative Arts High School (Camden)
•    Delsea Regional High School
•    Glassboro High School
•    Gloucester County Institute of Technology
•    Millville Senior High School
•    Pennsauken High School
•    Princeton High School
•    Washington Township High School
•    Williamstown High School


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