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A program supported by Rochester Institute of Technology’s K-12 University Center is providing an Ohio high school student with the chance to work alongside professional researchers, and undergrad and graduate students to help bolster his exposure in physics. The summer apprenticeship opportunity through the Army Educational Outreach Program is administered by RIT K-12 on behalf of the U.S. Army, and provides paid internship-like experiences in science, technology, engineering and math for high school through postdoctoral individuals at Army labs and partner universities across the country.

As students from across the country apply to apprenticeship and fellowship experiences through the Army Educational Outreach Program, a goal of its centers, laboratories, partner sites and program staff is to make sure students are set up for success. It’s a collaboration that happens with program managers and those administering AEOP at Rochester Institute of Technology.

South Dakota Mines, a university in Rapid City, South Dakota, is 1,506 miles from Rochester Institute of Technology. Where the two are connected, however, is with its partnership through Army Educational Outreach Program Apprenticeships and Fellowships.

Alexia Savage, a STEP scholar from Rush-Henrietta, has an academic resume that trumps many adults’. Just from this year’s Terra Fair, the 16-year-old high school junior walked away with seven awards, honors and other recognitions that also helped punch her ticket to present at Genius Olympiad -- an international science fair hosted by RIT.

Seniors involved in STEP through Rochester Institute of Technology’s K-12 University Center who have committed to pursuing higher education. Colleges and universities scholars plan to attend are Alfred State, Finger Lakes Community College, Gannon University, Manhattan College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Monroe Community College, Niagara University, North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina Central University, Roberts Wesleyan, St. John Fisher, SUNY Cobleskill, University of Rochester and Wingate University.

Director Cara Mulvaney answers questions about the Office of Youth Protection and Compliance's mission in supporting a safe environment for minors on campus and involved in RIT-affiliated activities, events and programming.

Assistant Professor Yewande Abraham is part of a team developing a virtual reality-based learning environment to improve middle school students’ interest in STEM fields, specifically the evolving construction industry.

Emily Nack, an RIT graduate and past participant of the Army Educational Outreach Program, works fulltime at the Army Cyber Institute as a civilian employee serving the Department of Defense. She started with ACI last year as an AEOP apprentice and fellow, putting to use her passion of war-gaming to help develop new programs.

Rochester Prep High School's graduating class includes 91 students who will either continue their education or join the workforce. Eighty-five students from RIT's partner charter school will attend college in the fall, and eight of them will enroll at RIT. 

Two Greece Olympia Senior High School students, Kaiyu Kosanouvong and Amir Johnson, were awarded Presidential Scholarships through Rochester Institute of Technology. They both have also participated in Liberty Partnerships Program at RIT's K-12 University Center, since middle school, and will start at the university in the fall.

The Army Educational Outreach Program Apprenticeships and Fellowships team from Rochester Institute of Technology is aiming to enhance its portfolio of resources for participants that may provide a pathway and sense of belonging in STEM. One of the ideas is to create a variety of interactive and original online learning modules, with a focus to support students along their journeys in science, technology, engineering and math, by offering guidance through these platforms with exposure to various insights in and out of the lab – and with constant support from RIT K-12 staff on all levels.

When it comes to child safety, professionals in the industry work together in a common goal to prevent child abuse by educating adults on how to recognize, prevent and react appropriately if they see or suspect it. That’s one of the reasons why RIT’s director for the Office of Youth Protection and Compliance actively works with her counterparts from across the country using resources, such as the Higher Education Protection Network, or HEPNet, to bring best practices to the university.