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K-12 students - Women in Engineering

close up of a diverse color of hands working in a sand box during a k-12 wie event

We offer a variety of programs and resources for K-12 students to explore engineering and computer science through hands on and virtual experiences.


What do engineers and computer scientists do?

Engineering and computer science include many exciting careers focused on innovation and problem solving.  

Learn more

Summer Events (June – August)

What: Residential/Commuter
Who: 7th-9th graders in Fall 2024
Where: Engineering Building
When: Sunday, June 23rd – Thursday, June 27th, 2024
Time: M-Th 8:00am-4:00pm
Residential Check-in: 5pm Sunday
Cost: $575 commuter | $975 residential

Registration Deadline: May 23.

More Details
Students will get exposure to engineering through hands-on activities learning from MSU engineering faculty and students. Students will be encouraged to practice logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Learn how engineering makes a difference in our world and plays a key role in every aspect of our lives.

Register

Phone: (517) 432-1273
E-mail: wie@egr.msu.edu

What: Introduction to computer science foundations
Who: 7th-10th graders in Fall 2024
Where: Engineering Building (room TBA)
When: Monday July 8 – Thursday, July 11, 2024
Time: 8:00am-4:00pm
Cost: $575 commuter

Registration Deadline: June 7.

More details:

Students will be introduced to basic programming concepts and have an opportunity to be creative while using problem solving skills.  Learning to code is the 21st century's equivalent of learning a superpower – and although it may not come with a cape, it will empower you to improve the world around you.  Join us alongside a supportive team of current MSU computer science faculty and students to learn the basics of computer science, grow as a problem-solver and teammate, and bloom as an up-and-coming leader in today’s fastest-growing field.  Students will learn computing fundamentals using BBC Microbits in both block coding and python, have an opportunity to explore the possibilities of computing in different disciplines, and get an insider peek into relevant MSU research labs.

Register

Phone: (517) 432-1273
E-mail: wie@egr.msu.edu


Fall Events (September – December)

What: Facilitators from MSU present a FREE eight-week series exploring the power of computing and learning to code to design a project.
Who: Grades 6-12
When: Saturdays – October 7 through December 2, 2023
Where: Foster Labs, Foster Community Center – Lansing, MI

For more information, visit the Technovation website.

Another great opportunity to check out the College of Engineering is Preview Day, held in early October every year. Meet with professors, tour laboratories and see engineering interactive demonstrations, learn about majors and careers, talk with current MSU students, view undergraduate research posters and projects, and much more.

Learn more

Who: High school Freshmen - Seniors

Where: Michigan State University, Engineering Building, 428 S. Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824

When: Friday, December 8, 2023

Time: 7:30am - 1:00pm

Cost: $0

MSU College of Engineering celebrates, at the end of each semester, achievements of its students by hosting Design Day. Student teams exhibit their design projects and compete for awards. Design projects are pervasive throughout the engineering curriculum, and all 11 of the MSU engineering academic programs are represented, including freshman through senior level classes.

Design Day is open to the public and free. Attendees include corporate clients, families, friends, faculty, and students. In addition, hundreds of students travel from across Michigan to explore design principles with hands-on activities.

Design Day website

K-12 Innovation and Creativity Day

Contact Information:

Email: wie@egr.msu.edu

What: Girls’ STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Day is an outreach event hosted by the College of Engineering which hosts hundreds of students who come and learn about STEM fields. Students have the opportunity to participate in four hands-on activities STEM.
Who: 5th-8th graders of all genders
Where: Engineering and Anthony Hall Buildings
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00 pm: Four 25-minute rotations, with 10 minutes in-between
Check-in: 12:30-1:00pm
Program Fee: $0

Register
Taking place over 2 weeks and includes 4 virtual sessions, usually following MWMW schedule in the evenings, these sessions introduce students to engineering opportunities at MSU and beyond. This includes hearing alumni panels, MSU faculty, and advisors talk about life in the STEM fields.
When: Fall Semester
Type: Virtual

Email wie@egr.msu.edu for information.

The Middle and High School Innovative and Creative Dart Foundation Design Day is focusing on immersing students and teachers in hands-on and experiential engineering education. It introduces them to innovative and inspiring engineering designs and projects. Participating students and teachers are to work on innovative and inspiring engineering projects such as building a wireless thermometer.
Contact for info

Girls’ STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Day is an outreach event hosted by the College of Engineering which hosts hundreds of students who come and learn about STEM fields. Students have the opportunity to participate in four hands-on activities STEM.
Apply now

Spring Events (January – May)

What: Spartan Girls Who Code inspires and empowers students to create technology for the benefit of all.
Who: Grades 6-12 of all genders
When: To be announced

For more details, visit http://www.spartangwc.org/.

What: Registration is required and participants must be chaperoned.
Who: 4th - 8th graders of all genders
Where: MSU Engineering Building
When: Saturday, Feb 17, 2024
Check-in: 12:10 - 12:40pm
Welcome: 12:45 - 12:55pm
Activities: 1:10-4:00pm
Program Fee:


Registration deadline is February 7 or until maximum capacity is reached.

4th-8th graders will rotate through five hands-on activities. Activities are prearranged in tracks. Upon registration at the link below, you will choose your top five track choices and then one will be assigned to you prior to the event.

Sponsored by: Michigan Department of Transportation & General Motors  

Phone: (517) 432-1273
E-mail: wie@egr.msu.edu

Activities and Descriptions
Final Rotational schedule 15 activities
MSU Media Release Form
MSU Medical Treatment Authorization Form
Parent Guardian Consent Combined with COVID-19 Statement 2022

Register

With the intent to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in STEM-based paths, this event is also organized to help close the diversity gap. Undergraduate students and alumni from the College of Engineering and the Society of Hispanic Engineers SHPE serve as role models for younger students. Various research teams and as well as faculty within the different STEM departments offer hands-on activities.

Phone: (517) 432-1273
E-mail: wie@egr.msu.edu

Who: Teams of three students in grades nine through 12. A maximum of four teams per Michigan high school, where at least 50 percent of participants from each school are women or underrepresented minorities in Computer Science. Participants should know basic programming, including reading standard input and writing to standard output.

There are two competition brackets: novice programmers and experienced programmers

Where: Michigan State University, Engineering Building, 3rd Floor, 428 S. Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824
When: To be announced
Time:
Program fee: $0
Programming languages supported: C, C++14, C#, Go, Haskell, Java 8, Perl, PHP, Python 2, Python 3, R, Racket

For more information about the programming environment, see HackerRank.

Phone: (517) 432-1273
E-mail: wie@egr.msu.edu
What: MSU College of Engineering celebrates, at the end of each semester, achievements of its students by hosting Design Day. Student teams exhibit their design projects and compete for awards. Design projects are pervasive throughout the engineering curriculum, and all 11 of the MSU engineering academic programs are represented, including freshman through senior level classes.

Design Day is open to the public and free. Attendees include corporate clients, families, friends, faculty, and students. In addition, hundreds of students travel from across Michigan to explore design principles with hands-on activities.

Who: High school Freshmen - Seniors
Where: Michigan State University, Engineering Building, 428 S. Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824
When: To be announced
Program Fee: $0

Design Day
K-12 Innovation and Creativity Day

Contact Information:
Email: wie@egr.msu.edu

Apply for a summer camp scholarship

K-12 Learning Resources

There are many wonderful resources available for students of all ages. Here are a few resources to get you started.

Engineer Girl
Design Squad
Girls Inc.
Science Kids
Dot Diva
eGFI
DisoverE
Made w/Code
Girl Scouts

Visit games and activities for more options.


Volunteer opportunities

In achieving its goals, the Women in Engineering program does not unlawfully discriminate. All events and programs are open to students of all genders.