2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Expanding Access to Humanoid Robotics and AI Education: A Comparative Case Study of Two Youth Summer Camps for Underrepresented Students

Presented at Minorities in Engineering Division(MIND) Technical Session 5

This paper presents the lessons learned from an outreach initiative conducted by the [Name of College] in the form of a Summer Camp held in 2025. This camp represented the second in a planned series of nine Summer Camps over a five-year period, organized under a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project. The program aimed to increase public awareness among younger generations about Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled devices and humanoid robots, and their applications and impact in healthcare within [State Name].
While originally the camp targeted underrepresented middle school girls as part of a broader effort to promote gender diversity in STEM fields, administrative changes in federal funding led the 2025 camp to expand eligibility to both girls and boys and age group shifted to 8 to 12. The program was facilitated by a multidisciplinary team of ten faculty members, staff, and volunteers from the [Name of College], with logistical and administrative support from [Name of Church], which also hosted the camp.
A total of 26 students participated in the four-day program. The curriculum introduced students to key STEM concepts, robot design, robot handling, algorithmic thinking, robot programming through Python and Choreograph software, and ethical considerations in robotics. Participants also received hands-on experience programming NAO-6 humanoid robots in small teams. The camp culminated in a “Robot Rally” performance, in which students showcased original skits demonstrating how humanoid robots can contribute to healthcare innovation. To evaluate the participants’ prior knowledge toward AI and robotics as well as the camp’s effectiveness in shaping students’ perceptions, participants completed pre- and post-assessment surveys. Results showed a 17% increase in participants’ confidence in programming and coding concepts and a 14% increase in confidence in working with AI, as well as an overall improvement in confidence in handling robots. In contrast, participants’ interest in pursuing STEM fields decreased by 10%.
This paper discusses effective pedagogical strategies, logistical challenges, and engagement patterns, comparing outcomes between the first camp (middle school cohort) and the second (younger, mixed-gender cohort), and offers recommendations for future implementations.

Authors

Dr. Nahid Vesali The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Nahid Vesali is the Head of the Department of Engineering Leadership and Program Management (ELPM) in the School of Engineering at The Citadel. She joined the program in August 2020. She teaches a wide range of engineering project management courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a focus on cultivating essential professional and leadership skills in the next generation of technical experts.
Her earlier research focused on risk management and decision-making under uncertainty. Currently, her scholarship explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into project management practices and engineering education. She is also actively engaged in outreach initiatives that provide opportunities for minorities and underrepresented groups in engineering.
Oguzhan Oruc http://orcid.org/0009-0005-4352-7755 The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Oguzhan Oruc received his B.S. and M.S. degrees
in mechanical engineering from Istanbul Technical
University, Istanbul, Turkey in 2005 and 2017,
respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical
engineering from the University of New Hampshire,
in 2018.
He is currently an Assistant Professor in the
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Citadel
Military College of South Carolina. His research
interests include nonlinear system identification,
modeling, simulation, and control system design for
underwater and surface vehicles, machine learning-based adaptive control, AIenabled
haptic devices in biomechanics.
Dr. Oruc’s specialization is System Dynamics and Control and System
Identification in particular. His studies involve nonlinear system identification
model-based control, and navigation and guidance of ocean vehicles.
Eva Singleton The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Eva Singleton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Leadership and Program Management (ELPM) in the School of Engineering at The Citadel Military College in Charleston, SC.
She is a certified Project Management Professional with 15 years of experience in various industries, including publishing, manufacturing, and government contracting. She enjoys serving in complex project management roles requiring adaptability and problem-solving, strategic planning, and leadership skills. Dr. Singleton is enthusiastic about educating professionals and college students to advance their business and academic endeavors using project management competencies, skills, tools, techniques, and leadership.
Her research interest includes interdisciplinary topics related to project management, such as leadership, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, systems planning, process improvement, and burnout.
Dr. Singleton obtained a Doctorate in Business Administration from Walden University, a Master of Science in Project Management from The Citadel, certificates in Organizational Leadership and Technical Project Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Strayer University.
Heath Kaufman The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Heath Michael Kaufman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering at The Citadel, where he teaches statics, mechanics of materials, structural analysis, reinforced concrete design, steel design, and engineering practice and professional licensure. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati (2024) with specialization in structural engineering, and previously served as part-time faculty at Miami University teaching structures courses to architecture students. Dr. Kaufman brings significant industry experience from his role as a Structural Engineer at Schaefer Inc., where he designed projects ranging from large-scale distribution facilities to multi-story steel structures. His professional practice experience informs his approach to integrating industry-standard software and real-world applications into undergraduate curriculum. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Kentucky and currently serves as Instructional Secretary for the Special Interest Division of ASEE's Southeast Region. His research interests include structural fire engineering and engineering education pedagogy, with particular focus on bridging the gap between academic instruction and professional practice in structural analysis education.
Shobhit Aggarwal http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0911-0631 The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Aggarwal earned his Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication from Kurukshetra University, India in 2014, a Masters of Science and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2018 and 2023 respectively.
After graduation, he served as an Embedded Firmware Engineer in an IoT-based Engineering organization in Charlotte and held a position as a Senior Embedded Software Engineer at a Fortune 500 electrical sector corporation in Raleigh. In Fall of 2024, Dr. Aggarwal joined the faculty of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at The Citadel. There, he is the primary instructor for Computer Architecture, Embedded Systems, Data Communication and Networking, and Electrical Lab. His research interests span a wide range of topics, including IoT, Wireless Communication, Embedded Systems, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. Andrew B. Williams The Citadel [biography]

Andrew B. Williams, Ph.D. is the Dean of Engineering and the Louis S. LeTellier Chair at The Citadel School of Engineering. Dr. Williams is an alumni of the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers in Engineering Symposium and the National GEM Consortium Ph.D. in Engineering Program. He received both his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in AI and his BSEE from the University of Kansas.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on July 31, 2026

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