High school minority students get acquainted with engineering

The University Familiarization Program for Minorities in Engineering is one of the few enrichment programs in the nation organized and run by students. Student members of the National Society for Black Engineers coordinate the annual program, whose goal is to encourage minorities to enter engineering fields once they enroll in college.

Participating high school students are selected on the basis of competitive essays and academic records. They attend classes, take field trips, design their own engineering projects, and learn about test-taking strategies, along with other study skills.

Corporate sponsors include Thiokol Corp., Champion International, Du Pont, Eastman Chemical Co., and International Paper Co. Each student is designated as scholar of one of the five corporations.