Developing Young Engineering Talent

19 October 2016
Developing Engineering Talent

At Abaco, we take developing young engineering talent very seriously. If we’re to become what we want to be; if we’re to be recognized as an innovator; and if we’re to deliver the products our customers need—then attracting new, young engineering talent is fundamental to us achieving our goals.

As Abaco’s Global Technical Support Engineering Manager, I worked with the National Society of Black Engineers North Alabama Professionals and the Huntsville City Schools to support this goal. Together, we organized the week long 5th Annual Summer Engineering Camp for Robotics.

The five-day camp was developed to be a technology-rich program that focuses on promoting the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines while teaching core values of leadership, teamwork, and communications skills. The robotics camp attracted almost 500 rising 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, affording them the opportunity to build and program either LEGO or VEX robot kits. In addition to the hands-on experience, local industry leaders and Georgia Tech Research Institute demonstrated the latest science and technology advancements in their industries.
 
Abaco also donated $1,500 to the National Society of Black Engineers Professionals in support of the Summer Engineering Camp (and every T-shirt handed out to all the camp’s participants will have the Abaco Systems name on the right sleeve). We also donated $1,500 to Challenger Middle School Robotics in support of their robotics team that placed third in the national competition last year. This year’s competing robot will have the Abaco Systems name on it.
 
Next year’s camp is scheduled to provide an opportunity for 600 young people at New Century High School, Columbia High School and Jemison High School in Huntsville. We’re looking forward to continuing our support for the development of our future professionals.
 
For other examples of what we’re doing in this field, see here and here