Clark State Community College is recruiting Clark County middle school and high school students for the 2016 Johns Hopkins University Phone & Games and Engineering Innovation programs to be held this summer. Clark State STEM Programming Manager Kanesha Hall will be visiting local schools and presenting the two programs to eligible students.

The Engineering Innovation program has been held for more than seven years on Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland. It is being held for the second time at Clark State for four weeks beginning June 27, 2016. “Engineering Innovation is for highly motivated high school students interested in sciences, specifically engineering and mathematics,” said Hall. 

Engineering Innovation applicants must be in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 and have completed biology or chemistry and a math class involving sines, cosines and tangents. “The student must have earned at least a B in all math and science classes,” said Hall. Interested students will also need to write an essay expressing interest in the program and be recommended by a math or science teacher. Engineering Innovation students will receive three credits from Johns Hopkins University if they earn a grade of B or higher.

The Phone & Games program, open to highly motivated Clark County students in grades 6, 7 and 8, is being offered at Clark State for the second time. Qualified students should show an interest in engineering related to mathematics and coding.

“Phone & Games is a program that offers middle school students the opportunity to create working android apps during a week of fast paced mathematical inquiry and problem-based scenarios,” said Hall. “This year will feature new and updated android devices for the real-life application of computer coding.” Hall said at the conclusion of the program, students will present their apps during a symposium.

Phone & Games applicants must have at least a B in science and math classes, write an essay expressing interesting in the program and be recommended by a math or science teacher. The program will be held at Clark State June 27 - July 1, 2016. Applications will be available beginning March 1 on Clark State's website. Until then, the application will be given to students and school staff during recruitment visits or to parents by request.

Both Engineering Innovation and Phone & Games will accept just 24 students. Students who apply to Engineering Innovation and Phone & Games will be notified in 1-2 weeks regarding the status of their application. “There are several application review deadlines to apply for Engineering Innovation and Phone & Games,” said Hall. “Once 24 students are accepted into each program, the applications will close.”

Hall said the two Johns Hopkins University programs are offered at no charge to students who attend school in Clark County, Ohio. “The total of 48 Clark County students accepted into Engineering Innovation and Phone & Games will receive a full scholarship to cover the costs,” she said.

Hall encourages interested students to apply, stating that the Engineering Innovation program is an opportunity for a high school student to earn college credit from one of America’s finest and most scientifically impactful universities. “Engineering Innovation also includes the chance to visit Johns Hopkins University for a day in Baltimore.”

Hall said the Phone & Games program is especially relevant because the professional fields of gaming and virtual reality simulation are seeing substantial growth. “From advancements such as smart phones to robotic surgical practices, students in grades 6-8 are best prepped for a quickly changing tech-dominated education and society through hands-on participation.”

Hall said students should expect to think intently and deeply while participating in these programs, but also to expect to learn something new. “The programs are designed to be challenging,” she said. “Students will face circumstances common to higher education and professional spaces. The most successful students in the programs are ones who understand that challenges do not guarantee failure, they guarantee growth; in consequence, when we grow, we learn.”

Engineering Innovation applications will be accepted February 1-June 1, 2016. Applications will be accepted until 24 participants have been selected. Online applications will be available at: http://engineering.jhu.edu/ei/apply.

Phone & Games applications will be accepted March 1-June 1, 2016. Applications will be accepted until 24 participants have been selected.