2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Pilot Study: From Curiosity to Career- The Influence of a Summer Camp on High School Students’ Interest in Transportation and STEM Careers

Presented at Construction Engineering Division: Best of Construction

This study evaluates the impact of a summer camp designed to increase high school students' interest in transportation and related STEM fields. The camp, which spanned one and half week, included a variety of activities such as hands-on workshops, field trips to transportation hubs like airports and traffic management centers, and discussions with professionals from transportation, engineering, and environmental science sectors. Pre- and post-survey data were collected from high-school and gifted middle school students to assess changes in their knowledge and career interests. Results demonstrate a significant shift in student engagement with transportation fields. After attending the camp, 65% of students reported an increased interest in transportation technologies, with 45% stating they gained greater familiarity with transportation systems and concepts, compared to their pre-camp levels. Moreover, 40% of students indicated they were now more likely to consider a career in transportation, with specific interest in careers such as civil engineering, urban planning, and traffic management.
The camp also fostered increased enthusiasm for other STEM fields. 55% of participants reported heightened interest in engineering, while 35% expressed increased curiosity about environmental science. The camp's combination of interactive learning sessions, exposure to real-world transportation challenges, and direct engagement with industry experts played a key role in these outcomes. Furthermore, the program positively influenced career exploration, with 30% of students considering roles in civil engineering, 25% in robotics, and 20% in construction management as a result of their camp experience. The field trips and hands-on activities, such as building basic circuits and observing traffic systems in action, were cited by participants as the most valuable components of the camp. These findings suggest that experiential learning, coupled with industry exposure, can significantly enhance students’ awareness and interest in STEM careers, particularly in transportation and related sectors.

Authors

Dr. Tejal Mulay http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3097-3888 Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Tejal Mulay is an Assistant Professor in Electronic Engineering Technology under the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology (SAET) at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). Dr. Mulay’s primary research area is speech signal processing, including but not limited to acoustic emotion recognition, digital signal processing, autonomous vehicles, and blockchain technology and its applications. She also has authored and co-authored articles in various technical journals and conferences in these areas of education in the engineering field.

Dr. Mulay has been working with minority students in the STEM fields since her graduate school days. She has been assistant director for the REAP summer camps funded by NSF, which aimed towards increasing the participation of minority students in STEM research. She has also been part of the FAMU STEM Day team, assisting with the demonstration and experiment portion of this annual event. She has assisted many undergraduate students in getting internships and scholarships through various programs.

Dr. Mulay received her master's of science degree and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in India.
Dr. Doreen Kobelo Regalado http://orcid.org/https://0009-0008-9020-6227 Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Doreen Kobelo Regalado is an Associate Professor and Director of the Construction Engineering Technology Program at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), within the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology. Her research expertise spans transportation engineering, focusing on traffic operations and safety, vehicle automation, intelligent transportation systems, and commercial and heavy construction management. Dr. Kobelo has successfully secured research funding from state, federal, and private entities, contributing significantly to advancements in these areas. She has authored and co-authored numerous articles for technical journals and conferences, particularly in traffic safety, operations, and engineering education.
Dr. Kobelo is committed to promoting STEM opportunities for minority students. She has hosted the National Summer Transportation Institute, a program funded by the Federal Highway Administration that introduces high school students to transportation-related STEM fields. Additionally, she has played an active role in FAMU's annual STEM Day, organizing hands-on demonstrations and experiments. As FAMU’s representative to the Transportation Research Board, Dr. Kobelo has also helped graduate and undergraduate students secure Dwight David Eisenhower Fellowships through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Dr. Kobelo serves as a member of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Occupant Protection Coalition, which aims to address key occupant protection issues and develop initiatives to reduce crashes involving unrestrained occupants.
She earned her Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from Florida State University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Mohamed Khalafalla http://orcid.org/https://my-orcid?orcid=0000-0001-9621-4940 Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Mohamed Khalafalla is an Assistant Professor of Construction Engineering at Florida A&M University's School of Architecture and Engineering Technology. His research expertise includes risk analysis, cost estimating, and concrete materials research. Dr. Khalafalla has contributed extensively to projects sponsored by the Department of Energy and the Tennessee Department of Transportation, conducting studies in sustainability, risk analysis, cost estimation, and concrete performance. He also has significant expertise in STEM education and research, particularly in innovative teaching methodologies and curriculum development aimed at enhancing student engagement in STEM fields. Dr. Khalafalla has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and technical reports. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Auburn University, an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, an MBA from the University of Khartoum, and a Master of Science in Law (MSL) from Northwestern University.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025

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