2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

A university-led Scholar–Mentor program at George Mason University (GMU) extends a summer camp on clean energy into a sustained, year-long, research-based experience for high school students. Through this program, students engage in research projects and are mentored by faculty, graduate students, and professionals from leading power and energy organizations, including Google, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC), and Hispanics in Energy Virginia Chapter (HIE-VA). The program is structured around a three-tier mentorship model that integrates faculty guidance, near-peer technical coaching, and industry-informed perspectives, bridging early STEM exposure with workforce preparation.

This Work in Progress paper presents the program’s architecture, implementation strategies, and initial outcomes. A mixed-methods evaluation framework was developed to assess changes in students’ technical confidence, communication skills, and sense of belonging within engineering communities. Preliminary findings, along with ongoing assessment efforts, are discussed to inform iterative program refinement.

By articulating both the program design and its assessment strategy, this work offers a replicable model for institutions seeking to build sustained pre-college research pipelines aligned with future energy workforce needs.