More than 20 HISD students were among a select group of scholars from around the state who were invited to attend the prestigious Tapia Say STEM Camp at Rice University this summer.
The camp, which is sponsored by ExxonMobil, is available to rising eighth- through 12th–graders and features a weeklong residential experience with a challenging STEM curriculum. Campers experimented with hands-on STEM projects, like building miniature wind turbines out of household items such as glue, cardstock and popsicle sticks.
The camp allowed students to enhance their communication skills by learning how to simplify complicated STEM ideas via graphic drawings and an end-of-camp oral presentation – all while experiencing life on a college campus. The camp was held at The Richard Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity at Rice University, which promotes greater participation of underrepresented minorities and women in the sciences and engineering.