Established in 1995, thousands of undergraduate students have participated in university EPICS programs nationally and internationally, delivering several hundred projects to local communities and affecting countless lives. Since expanding the program to high schools in 2006, students in grades 9-12 have participated in EPICS programs by creating innovative projects which meet real needs in their communities. EPICS High enables high school students to connect engineering and computing design to local community needs while working to interest students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields:
- The Pacific Ridge High School EPICS program (in San Diego, CA) focuses on community-related issues in San Diego’s coastal environment. Students are learning about sustainable ecosystems and ways to ensure their campus has a minimal level of environmental impact.
- The Agawam High School EPICS program (in Fedding Hills, MA) has partnered with their local Lions Club to design and produce all items necessary for handicap accessibility to the Lions Club Eye Mobile.
Community partners such as social service agencies, schools, hospitals, and museums serve as the customers, corporate and higher education partners serve as mentors to the students by offering expertise and resources, and additional partners offer financial and/or material support as needed. Current EPICS High models exist for urban, suburban, and rural schools, as well as programs after school, within the school day, and as part of an existing course. A piece of the EPICS High program is summer training for high school teachers and administrators. Training is designed to give teachers and administrators the tools and resources needed to implement, build and sustain EPICS High at their schools. Please contact EPICS High to find out more about a training opportunities and how to participate in the EPICS High program. For more information, visit the EPICS High website at:
https://engineering.purdue.edu/EPICSHS/ or contact: Pam Turner, EPICS-High Coordinator 765-496-1889 plturner@purdue.edu
