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UNT, Freescale Semiconductor join forces to promote engineering careers to high schools students
The University of North Texas College of Engineering and Austin-based Freescale Semiconductor are collaborating on a new program to encourage high school students to pursue careers in engineering. The program intends to show that engineering can be an enjoyable career by reaching out to those students. Vijay Vaidyanathan, UNT assistant professor of engineering technology and coordinator of the university's electronics engineering technology program, said the project grew out of discussions with Freescale Semiconductor. Vaidyanathan said Freescale and UNT have had a relationship for several years through the sponsorship of a microcontroller laboratory in UNT's College of Engineering. "Freescale is also a member of our Industry Advisory Board, providing insights to trends in engineering education and feedback to current programs," he said. This year, Vaidyanathan said, Freescale is sponsoring a senior design project, in which a group of students is developing a set of mental exercises to interest high school students in engineering as a career. The exercises will be easy to perform, he added. "Typically, projects sponsored by industry are focused on the use of their products, but this senior project is taking a new direction," he said. The five students -- Michael Braunstein from Brownsville, Jason Jackson from Houston, Jeremy Morgan from Garland, Muhammad Rashid Khan from Pakistan and Copelon Wright from Fort Worth -- are designing these hands-on exercises to encompass areas of robotics and games. The students will present their project to Freescale April 29. Andrew Mastronardi, director of university programs for Freescale, said the company's interest in this senior project is rooted in helping to secure engineers for the future. "Without students going into engineering, growth internally and externally for Freescale will be impacted," Mastronardi said. "Students need to be engaged in their learning, and this UNT project will help encourage high school students to consider engineering as an exciting career." Nourredine Boubekri, chairman of UNT's Department of Engineering Technology, calls the senior design project "an excellent initiative for our students to participate in an innovative approach to increase the interest of potential students to the field of engineering."
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Rafael McDonnell 940-565-4835
Email: RMcDonnell@unt.edu
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