UVU PREP Program Prepares Kids for STEM Careers

Over the summer, more than 200 incoming seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students celebrated their time in the Utah Valley University Prefreshman Engineering (UVU PREP) program, a free seven-week course focused on teaching students principles of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

   

Over the summer, more than 200 incoming seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students celebrated their time in the Utah Valley University Prefreshman Engineering (UVU PREP) program, a free seven-week course focused on teaching students principles of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Friends, family, and teachers joined the celebration, and students showcased projects they worked on during the summer courses.

Those students going into ninth grade were recognized as they successfully completed their third and final year of the program. Typically, students apply for the PREP program in the sixth grade by filling out an application, getting a teacher recommendation, and sharing their math grade. Once selected from the Alpine, Nebo, and Provo school districts, students then commit to a rigorous seven-week academic program for three consecutive summers, where they will complete hands-on educational projects and challenging homework assignments and learn from career awareness speakers and field trips.

According to Director of School Community University Partnership Liz Andrus, the program is designed to provide opportunities for underrepresented and first-generation students to pursue STEM.

“The purpose of the program is to help students prepare for careers in STEM. To do that, our program is centered around three key philosophies. The first is that math is the key to success. The second is that mentors and role models provide support, and the third is to cultivate a spirit of hard work and resiliency,” Andrus said.

Alpine, Provo, and Nebo school districts each pay three teachers to teach courses every summer. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County provides the students with lunches and snacks, making the program completely free for students.

For Ian Chang, the UVU PREP program acted as a springboard for his career. Chang started as a student in the program in 2015 after a recruiter visited his school.

“My friends and I applied to the program because we were all interested in STEM, and the field trips looked pretty awesome,” Chang said.

During his time in the program, Chang took a statistics course and quickly determined that was something he wanted to do long term. He credits the UVU PREP program with providing him a chance to learn more about statistics and prepare for a future career in the field.

“Throughout high school, I used what I learned in the PREP program as a focus and took classes that would prepare for statistics as I go into college. The experience I have now could allow me to get an internship or a job offer, and overall, the experience boosted me to find what I am passionate about,” Chang said.

The program impacted Chang so much that he decided to come back this year and become a mentor for those students currently in the program.

“My mentor really impacted me and acted as a role model,” Chang said. “I really wanted a chance to become that mentor for someone else.”

Chang helps students with their assignments, makes sure they are on track to complete the program, and provides support. From his perspective, the students involved in the program have the ability to change the world one day.

“The students I work with are smart and determined. They are driven, and they see the program as an opportunity to excel.”

For more information about the UVU PREP program, visit uvu.edu/partnership/prep.