The Richmond Area Program for Minorities in Engineering: Summer Engineering Institute

The Richmond Area Program for Minorities in Engineering has been established as a pre-engineering K-12 education outreach program to achieve greater diversity in science and engineering. It provides an array of opportunities for middle and high school students to develop their communication and leadership skills, as well as build self-confidence. This is accomplished through two programs: the Summer Engineering Institute (SEI) and the scholarship program. The SEI consists of comprehensive hands-on activities, and mentoring of women and minority students in the quest to increase the presence, retention and the advancement of girls and minorities in engineering and science. In the following paper, the Richmond Area Program for Minorities in Engineering SEI attempts to diversify engineering education while assisting middle and high school students in becoming culturally knowledgeable in engineering and science.