The Villanova Engineering, Science and Technology Enrichment and Development (VESTED) Academy lately wrapped up its twentieth 12 months, marking 20 years of dedication to inspiring younger minds and cultivating a ardour for engineering. Under the management of founder Dr. Stephen Jones, Associate Dean for Student Success, this system has centered on two key targets: to introduce highschool college students from under-resourced communities to STEM fields, and to have interaction and empower college students with the potential to form the way forward for engineering in each the Philadelphia area and the nation.
“I helped establish the program based on the reality that most schools in Philadelphia offer no engineering courses or after-school engineering programs,” Dr. Jones mentioned. “My goal has been to significantly increase the number of underrepresented students who will consider engineering as a profession.”
Over the course of seven Saturdays from January to March, 16 devoted volunteers from the College of Engineering labored alongside Dr. Jones to information excessive schoolers by a dynamic mix of hands-on workshops, mentorship and real-world problem-solving experiences—all held in Drosdick Hall’s state-of-the-art labs and school rooms. Participants explored their creativity by creating gadgets like robotic shark jaws and drones.
“The long-term goal for the VESTED program is to potentially develop a research program that allows students to participate in a summer internship,” Dr. Jones mentioned.