Alexandria, VA — May 1, 2008 — In an announcement made today, the U.S. Army Research Office (USARO) will once again support a series of pre-college engineering summer camps held at nine university locations across the country to help foster an interest in engineering among high school students.

UNITE, funded by the USARO and coordinated by JETS, serves historically underrepresented and disadvantaged populations by helping students prepare for engineering and related careers through opportunities that let them 'try-on' engineering as a course of study and as a career. While each UNITE site's program is unique to its local area, all consist of four-to-eight week summer camps which are structured around highly rigorous academic courses coupled with unique hands-on activities.

UNITE helps prepare students for the college application process and teaches them the value of teamwork by emphasizing group projects. Students in grades 9-12 learn by doing, experience off site field work, work in hands-on labs, talk with experts, and engage in one-on-one instruction. Programs mimic a collegiate first-year experience, with some incorporating an on-campus residential component.

The nine universities conducting the UNITE summer programs for 2008 include: Florida International University, Morgan State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Mexico MESA, Savannah State University, Texas Southern University, University of Delaware, University of Detroit-Mercy, and University of New Orleans.

After completing last summer's program at the New Mexico MESA site, a student summarized his experience by stating, "I enjoyed the class because it was more hands-on and I felt like I learned more now than in the school year." JETS Executive Director, Leann Yoder, couldn't agree more. "Students today need real-life examples of how engineers make a difference in our world. UNITE helps fill a classroom void by showing students the practical applications of math and science while maintaining their academic interests when school isn't in session", says Yoder.

In the 20 years of the program's existence the USARO has invested over $3.5 million toward this initiative, reaching more than 7,000 students and helping expose them to the world of engineering. Of the students impacted, 55% are female, 53% are African American and approximately 54% of those currently in college choose to pursue engineering.

About JETS
JETS is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating our nation's young people about and preparing them for engineering and technology careers. Since 1950, JETS has been impacting a diverse group of high school students with programs that illustrate engineering in the real-world. Through a unique three-prong approach—Explore, Assess, and Experience—JETS academic competitions and educational resources excite students about careers in engineering and technology by showing them the critical role engineers play in the world around us. Learn more at www.jets.org.