Student Participants Needed for Summer Engineering Academy in Chicago

Hands-On Program Teaches Students to Use Math and Science for Problem Solving in Transportation and Civil Engineering Fields

CHICAGO – Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig announced today that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is seeking applications from high school students for IDOT’s Summer Engineering Academy, which is set to run August 2 through 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Richard Daley College at 7500 South Pulaski in Chicago.

“We want to encourage students to participate in the summer engineering academy,” said Secretary Hannig. “We are excited to share with students the great opportunities available in the transportation industry. It is important to us that they know civil engineering is a rewarding career worth considering.”

The Summer Engineering Academy will provide a realistic hands-on experience that encourages teamwork, problem solving and practical application, while also exposing students to exciting and challenging career opportunities in the field of engineering and the transportation industry.

The Summer Engineering Academy participants will design computational bridge models, learn bridge geometry and analyze the success or failures of their mock designs.

Civil engineers are responsible for designing, building and maintaining the roads and bridges that are needed to keep goods and services moving throughout the country. The Summer Engineering Academy is an effort to increase interest in civil engineering as a career.

All high school students are eligible to apply. There is no cost to the student to participate in the program.

To apply for the Summer Engineering Academy, print off an application from our website at:
www.dot.state.il.us/diversity/opportunities.html and mail to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 6-600, Chicago, IL 60601, attention Dianne Williams, no later than July 28, 2010. Applicants can also fax the application to (217) 557-7277 or email it to Dianne.Williams@illinois.gov.

For additional questions about the program, contact Dianne Williams at (312) 939-1100.