Since 2016, the Office of Outreach and Recruiting in New Mexico State University’s College of Engineering has hosted the NM PREP Middle School Academy and NM PREP High School Academy, a hands-on, engineering summer program. NM PREP will host four programs on the Las Cruces campus, one near the San Ildefonso Pueblo in northern New Mexico, and a virtual option.

NM PREP is for middle school students entering sixth through eighth grades and high school students entering ninth through 12th grades. Applications are due March 17. For more information and to register, visit https://engrnm.nmsu.edu/stem-connection/. 

“This summer, we are excited to continue with in-person learning, in the Las Cruces area and near the San Ildefonso Pueblo in northern New Mexico, in addition to providing our self-paced virtual program,” said Clara Raley, STEM program manager. “NM PREP Academy has been designed to spark student interest in STEM, specifically in engineering, by offering hands-on activities that simulate real-world engineering experiences. In addition to our key programs, this year we are offering two additional camps focused on space for middle school, and manufacturing through 3D printing for high school.”

NM PREP Academy High School will be held from 9 to 4 p.m. June 5-9 on the NMSU Las Cruces campus and is open to any high school student. Students will explore the fields of engineering and introductory engineering concepts through real-world projects.

NM PREP Academy Middle School will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 12-16 on the NMSU Las Cruces campus and is open to any middle school student. Students will explore real-world engineering problems through inquiry and hands-on learning.

NM PREP Mission Space will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26-30 on the NMSU Las Cruces campus and is open to middle school students who have previously participated in PREP or another STEM program. Students will apply critical thinking and engineering to plan a successful space mission, including rocketry and robotics.

NM PREP Mission Manufacturing will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 10-14 on the NMSU Las Cruces campus and near the San Ildefonso pueblo in northern New Mexico and is open to high school students. Students will experience 3D printing, with a focus on advanced manufacturing and non-destructive testing.

There is no cost to apply, and project materials, snacks and lunch will be provided for the in-person programs. In-person attendance is mandatory.

NM PREP Virtual is a fully self-paced program open June 5 to July 28 and is open to any middle school or high school student who wants to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics in a fun hands-on way and at their own pace. There is no cost to apply, however, project materials may be purchased online for about $100.

“All our programs incorporate hand-on projects with in-depth lessons that will dive deep into engineering concepts and disciplines,” Raley said. “Students who participate in PREP agree that the group projects mixed with plenty of fun make this fast-paced program a great way to spend a week during the summer.”