The Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma concluded its annual Summer Bridge Program on Aug. 4. The four-week on-campus initiative, designed for incoming freshman students with an interest in engineering, has seen a record-breaking number of participants this year.
The program helps prepare students for the academic rigors of engineering coursework. It offers course credit, team-building exercises and developmental seminars. Students take classes such as calculus and Introduction to engineering. They also participate in a team-based engineering design project, providing them with hands-on experience and a glimpse into their first semester of college.
“We are incredibly proud of all the participants and their achievements at Summer Bridge,” said Brandon Abbott, the program’s director. “This program not only provides academic preparation but also fosters a sense of community and engineering identity. We look forward to continuing to support and empower future engineering students.”
The Summer Bridge Program also emphasizes the development of engineering identity and community, particularly among historically underserved groups. This year, the program welcomed 53 student attendees, most of whom were residents of Oklahoma or Texas, with one student from Virginia. The program also had the largest staff in its history, with 24 undergraduate students serving as counselors, tutors and mentors.
A highlight of this year's program was the team-based engineering design project. Student teams were tasked with designing and building a water treatment system for a specific water source and end-use. The project showcase and closing ceremony, held Aug. 4, allowed the teams to display their achievements.
Several students were recognized and awarded scholarships for their outstanding work in various categories of the engineering design project during the closing ceremony. Recipients are:
Best Water Filter Performance:
Jaden Flores, Fort Worth, Texas
Darrius Gardner, Pearland, Texas
Justice Hayden, Mountain View, Oklahoma
Jael Lopez, Fort Worth, Texas
Daniel Park, Oklahoma City
Best Poster Performance:
Lailani Beltran-Hodge, Edmond, Oklahoma
Lauren Boerm, Houston
Zachary Finkelstein, Fort Worth, Texas
Ryan Robinson, Chickasha, Oklahoma
Tavion Smith, McKinney, Texas
Award of Excellence:
Georgette Bampoe, Oklahoma City
Hannah Graesser, Katy, Texas
Joshua Frechette Rivera, Moore, Oklahoma
Christian Sink, Carnegie, Oklahoma
Ashlyn Ward, Tuttle, Oklahoma
“We are incredibly proud of all the participants and their achievements during the Gallogly College of Engineering Diversity and Inclusion Summer Bridge Program,” said Brandon S. Abbott, director of Summer Bridge, Diversity and Inclusion Program. “This program not only provides academic preparation but also fosters a sense of community and engineering identity. We look forward to continuing to support and empower future engineering students.”
Learn more about OU Engineering.
By Lorene A. Roberson, Gallogly College of Engineering
