2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Investing in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is critical, especially as technology evolves rapidly and integrates with various professional fields supporting STEM across the United States. Thus, resulting in the need for technically adept students who can meet the needs of the STEM professional field(s). This need is particularly significant in the construction industry, where a diverse and technologically skilled workforce is essential. However, the industry faces challenges related to its perception among high school students and their parents, which can limit opportunities for women and minorities. Thus, this study explores how a STEM summer camp (intervention) influences the perceptions of minorities from rural high schools. The research study utilizes a pre-test to establish a baseline understanding of participants’ (rural high school minority students) perceptions, followed by an intervention through a STEM-focused summer camp designed to enhance their knowledge and skills. After completing the summer program, the research assesses changes in participants’ views on STEM careers and their interest in pursuing STEM fields through a post-test. The pre- and post-test were conducted as online surveys (hosted via Qualtrics) that consisted of open and closed-ended questions. The findings indicate that interventions in the form of summer camps significantly impact the participant's (minorities from rural schools) perceptions of the realization of the importance of STEM as an educational avenue and career, the intent to pursue STEM post-secondary degrees and careers, and have a learning experience that exceeds expectations.