HCC and DREME Foundation host STEM camp

Jul 25, 2016

Houston Community College (HCC) recently hosted the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Education Foundation (DREME) Summer Camp and STEM-OVATION Awards Ceremony and Science Fair at the Northeast campus. For the past three years, HCC has been an educational partner and host facility that has enabled more than 300 middle and high school students to experience collegiate level labs and information.

This year’s program consisted of five days of educational workshops and classroom activities for approximately 40 high school students. Camp participants took part in various STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities utilizing state-of-the-art labs and explore careers training offered in the HCC Global Energy Center of Excellence. They also learned about drone technology and career readiness education. The partnership with the DREME Foundation has helped increase enrollment at HCC.

“HCC is definitely an option for the students and we want them to know that it’s available and what resources HCC can provide,” said Kelcey White, DREME Foundation co-camp coordinator.

The closing awards ceremony gave parents, sponsors, and participants an opportunity to learn more about HCC programs and the legacy of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, a physicist and NASA astronaut who died during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Students presented their drone projects and were recognized for their work. After the ceremony, the Northeast campus served as the backdrop for the DREME science fair, which not only focused on STEM learning, but also challenged the students’ mental and physical abilities. Attendees engaged in interactive activities that ranged from conductive energy to aerospace technologies.

The HCC Global Energy Center of Excellence trains and educates technically-skilled and safety conscious workers for energy and related industries in Houston and surrounding regions. For more information on programs and course offerings, call 713.718.8300 or visit hccs.edu/energy.