STEM Camp: Middle School Students Take Autonomous Cars Out for A Spin

While middle school students are too young to drive, on a recent summer afternoon more than a dozen students were driving cars in a parking lot at SLCC’s Redwood campus. The students were driving autonomous rovers that they had programmed; it was the culmination of a week-long STEM camp in which they learned scientific and engineering topics related to developing a self-driving car.

"Did you know there are 22 satellites, and my car is connected to three of them? The more satellites your car is connected to, the more accurate it will be,” explains 14-year-old Aliyah Melgoza, who added she liked designing 3-D models and soldering to make her own circuit board.

SLCC faculty help design the week-long Slick Science STEM camp, which runs three sessions each summer. The curriculum and activities include: computer programming, 3-D computer modeling, 3-D printing, engineering design, calculating direction and distance using GPS/GIS (Geographic Information System mapping) and robotics.

“It is great to catch the attention of these students now, pre-high school, so they can go into high school hyped up and wanting to take some of the STEM classes. It can even plant ideas, early in their educational trajectory, of possible career paths,” says camp director Quentin McRae, associate professor, Engineering.

Participating students come from middle schools throughout Salt Lake County, and scholarships are available for students who may otherwise not be able to attend this STEM camp ($150 this year). The Murray School District supported these scholarships with transportation to ensure access.

“If you like making new friends and if you like to learn new things, this is a good camp,” says 11-year-old River Steimle. “If you think school is boring and you think this is going to be like school, you should still come because it isn’t boring, its super cool and fun.”

Salt Lake Community College’s Slick STEM Camp runs three, week-long sessions each summer. For more information for 2023 summer camps contact jan.rogers@slcc.edu or call 801-957-5181. Each camp is capped at 14 students.

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

The Center for Prior Learning Receives an Honorable Mention

Today, SLCC's Credit for Prior Learning department received an Honorable Mention from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL ) and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education for its intentional approach and for expanding student options to receive credit for prior learning. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) allows students to obtain college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside of the traditional academic environment. This is exceptionally beneficial for adult learners, who, according to CAEL, have a 17% higher chance of graduating compared to those adults who don’t earn credits through prior learning programs. The CPL department at SLCC was created in 2020 and since then the volume of students served has grown as the department continues to expand. To be eligible for CPL, students must be working towards a degree, certificate, or apprenticeship. Director of Credit for Prior Learning at SLCC, Andrea Tipton, mentioned fee...

Board of Higher Ed names Gregory F. Peterson 9th SLCC President

The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College today, following an extensive national search. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Deneece G. Huftalin, who served as president from 2014-2024. “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake Community College’s next president, and I look forward to reinforcing SLCC’s commitment to providing educational pathways for transfer and workforce that improve the lives of every member of our community,” Peterson said. “SLCC has an amazing future ahead, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that journey.” As part of its delegated duties and responsibilities, the SLCC Board of Trustees named an 11-member committee in December 2023 to conduct a national search for the next president of SLCC. The committee is composed of representatives from the Utah Board of Higher Education and SLCC trustees, facul...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog