From the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Educational Outreach Office

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Educational Outreach Office (EOO) will offer a one-week educational program for 20 students in 8th and 9th grades March 21-25.

The Engineering Exploration Experience (E³) program is designed to provide novel opportunities for students to learn about five specific fields within engineering, to learn about in-state college programs offering those engineering degrees, to participate in hands-on activities pertinent to those specific fields, to speak with engineers working in those fields and to tour various sites on base where that engineering work is being done.

According to NAWCAD EOO Director Holly Kellogg, this first E³ event will be specifically for dependents of active-duty or retired military in the tri-county area. Parents or guardians will be required to sign a permission form, including a release of liability and photo release.

Applications will be accepted until March 11.

E³ will be held during spring break week at the former STARBASE classroom, building 588, room 102 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Parents or guardians will be responsible for transporting their students to the classroom each day. Students will board EOO vans mid-day and be transported to the on-station tour sites.

Each day will feature a different field of engineering to include: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, computer engineering and chemical engineering.

Students will begin the day by learning about what that field of engineering does, and some of its industrial history. Each day will feature one or more hands-on activities or demonstrations in that field of engineering. By mid-late morning each day, the students will meet a panel of up to five engineers with degrees in, or who work in, that field of engineering. The panel engineers will answer prepared questions about their education and employment, and then the students will be able to ask other questions that they may have. These panel engineers will also be invited to bring a brown bag lunch and to continue their visit with the students over lunch, immediately to follow. Students will be expected to bring their lunches daily.

In the afternoon, students will tour one or more facilities on station where that type of engineering is being utilized. Tours are a critical component to the E3 program to demonstrate tangibly the kinds of work that Pax River engineers have the opportunity to do.

E³’s goal is to help students understand the differences between five fields of engineering, and to clarify the students’ particular interests and strengths. They will be exposed to fields of engineering employed at Pax River and be introduced to engineers who work in these fields. Students will gain valuable insight by meeting these engineers and seeing where they apply their expertise.

By learning about the educational requirements to enter such fields, the intent is that students will select rigorous classes in high school that will better prepare them to qualify for acceptance into engineering programs. Students will hopefully clarify their educational and career goals and feel encouraged and empowered to attend college and attain engineering degrees.

For more information or to request an application, please contact Holly Kellogg at [email protected] or 301-995-2082.