News

Representatives from the U.S. Army look at the K-12 University Center at Rochester Institute of Technology as a model in its relationship with apprenticeships and fellowships through the Army Educational Outreach Program. That’s due to the passion of staff who work to connect with and provide the best STEM opportunities possible for high school through postdoctoral individuals within the program, while also positively connecting with its partners.

Held on Nov. 11, Shadow Day welcomed 23 STEP students from various schools across Monroe County who registered to be part of the one-day, all-immersive experience that allowed them to visit classrooms on RIT’s campus, be paired with a student mentor, and learn more about college majors and programs that interest them in STEM – or STEAM – fields of study.

For staff of the Army Educational Outreach Program’s apprenticeships and fellowships, attending conferences is about being immersed in various communities to see how the program can support already-incredible STEM innovators and those aspiring to make a difference with the work they’re passionate about. The U.S. Army-funded program is based at the K-12 University Center at Rochester Institute of Technology.

The K-12 University Center at Rochester Institute of Technology was nominated for the 2023 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for supporting members of the armed forces who serve or who have served in the guard or reserve. According to the award website, it is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to employers.

June 27, 2023 will mark the 10-year anniversary of the Rochester Institute of Technology and Rochester Prep High School partnership – aimed at providing post-secondary educational opportunities to students through RIT, and resources that help with college readiness and the goal toward a 100 percent graduation rate.

After a more than two-year hiatus, Camp Tiger will be “back in full swing” for 2023 as the center facilitates activities and events for local youth, while still working with campus mitigation efforts. That also includes other youth-focused opportunities hosted by the K-12 University Center that have been phased back in during the 2022-23 school year.

Kids on Campus, a branch of the K-12 University Center at Rochester Institute of Technology, gives school-aged students in the community nontraditional admissions experiences – providing interactive campus involvement that exposes them to STEM disciplines they might be interested in, along with other opportunities provided by RIT.

A free, all-girls hackathon is being held this fall through Women in Computing at Rochester Institute of Technology. Applications are open until Oct. 25 for sixth- through 12th-grade girls to join the program called ROCGirl Hacks – aimed at learning and teaching code, working together and encouraging interest in technology.

Thanks to a grant from the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation through the New ERA Women Writers Grant Program, the Center for Engaged Storycraft at Rochester Institute of Technology is hosting a series of events throughout the school year – the latest being a Spooky Storytelling event Oct. 29 for 11th- and 12th-grade women and non-binary students from the Greater Rochester area.

For the first time, the K-12 University Center at Rochester Institute of Technology is facilitating the Rochester Prep High School capstone program, which annually allows students from the Rochester-based charter school the chance to work with university faculty members and participate in hands-on research in a variety of STEM disciplines.

RIT’s K-12 University Center hosted an event with the campus admissions office to better expose Rochester Prep High School seniors to various programs offered at the university. It started with a presentation and tour of campus, followed by lunch, and a question-and-answer session with RIT students.

This summer, RIT’s youth summer camps will be back in person for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. RIT will be offering a variety of youth residential and day camps.