Gateway Academy Summer Youth Program Receives Industry Endorsement

Nov. 10, 2008 - PRLog -- DEARBORN, Mich., — The Gateway Academy, a nationwide initiative of the SME Education Foundation, has received the endorsement of the Academy of Engineering (AOE) — a dynamic partnership between the National Academy Foundation (NAF), the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and Project Lead The Way® (PLTW).

The partnership of these three organizations focuses on recruiting more high school students to choose careers in engineering and engineering technology; increasing the participation of women and minorities, and preparing high school graduates to enter post-secondary engineering programs fully competent in the required mathematics, science and technical subjects.

Says J. D. Hoye, president of NAF, “As the partnership for the Academy of Engineering continues to develop, we are focused on maintaining small learning communities – such as those offered by the Gateway Academy. We are delighted to have a program such as this available to our nation’s youth.”

The concept of the Gateway Academy was created in a partnership between the SME Education Foundation and Project Lead the Way®, a not-for-profit organization that promotes engineering courses for middle and high school students. In 2008, the SME Education Foundation held 170 Gateway Academies and reached over 3,000 students in 25 states. Their goal is to increase to 210 Gateway Academies by 2010.
   
The Gateway Academy offers a weeklong, co-ed program allowing campers to work together in a fun and exciting environment. Students brainstorm ideas, solve problems and learn the basics of engineering concepts involving robotics, electronics and aerodynamics and then building and operating their own robotic vehicles, gliders and rockets. The curriculum prepares middle and high school students for engineering coursework offered by Project Lead The Way®  www.pltw.org  The Society of Manufacturing Engineering Foundation will provide funding at Academy of Engineering sites in the summer of 2009.
               
About the Academy of Engineering(AOE):
The Academy of Engineering (AOE) is a dynamic partnership between the National Academy Foundation (NAF), the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and  Project Lead The Way ® (PLTW). The purpose of the partnership is to increase the college readiness of a more diverse group of high school students and helping them to succeed in post-secondary engineering study and engineering-related careers.  

About the SME Education Foundation:
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation was created by SME in 1979 as a means of transforming manufacturing education in North American colleges and universities. As one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing manufacturing education, its approach is to inspire youth to pursue careers in manufacturing; support students studying for a career in an engineering-related field, and prepare these  students to participate in a global economy. The Foundation has provided more than $24 million in grants, scholarships and awards. Visit www.smeef.org and its award-winning Web site for young people, www.manufacturingiscool.com

# # #

The nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to advancing manufacturing education through student outreach programs, scholarships and college and university grants.