ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp
ProgramFact Sheet
- Former astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. founded the summer science camp program in 1994. In 2006, ExxonMobil joined in sponsoring Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
- Since 2006, the program has impacted more than9,500students.
- This year, camps are being offered at 20 universities and colleges across the United States.
- The camps encourage math and science education, motivate youth to stay in school, foster leadership and citizenship and instill responsibility, fairness and respect.
- The program is student-centered, team-oriented and collaborative, with practical, real-world experiences and connections that build self-confidence, decision-making and critical thinking skills.
- Camps are held in June, July and August.
- Students attend the camp at no cost and stay in dorms on campus. Each camp is held over a two-week period.
- The camps are facilitated by faculty at each university. University faculty, secondary teachers and other professionals teach classes. In addition, college and university students serve as senior camp counselors.
- Camps consist of classroom study, experiments, individual/team/group projects, weekly field excursions and guest speakers who motivate students to fulfill their dreams.
- Camp goals are to:
- Enhance proficiency in science, technology, engineering and math;
- Increase ability to successfully complete university and college programs in these disciplines in the future; and
- Enrich educators’ expertise in science and math and enhance their teaching skills.
- Student participants are selected based on the following criteria:
- Members of a traditionally underserved and underrepresented population;
- Entering sixth, seventh or eighth grade in the fall;
- GPA of at least a “B” in math and science and overall coursework;
- Score at the median-to-superior level in standardized math and science tests;
- Display an interest in math and science;
- Are recommended by their current math and science teachers; and
- The quality of a 250-word essay.
Follow The Harris Foundation (THF), Dr. Harris and the ExxonMobil Foundation to view exciting camp updates:
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THF: @THF_News
Dr. Harris: @bernardharrisjr
ExxonMobil Foundation: @XOMFoundation
THF: facebook.com/#!/TheHarrisFoundation
Dr. Harris: facebook.com/#!/drbernardharrisjr
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2015 Camp Sites
Lamar University (Beaumont, TX)
New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ)
North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC)
Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, TX)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Terre Haute, IN)
Saint Louis University (St. Louis, MO)
Southern University & A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA)
Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
University of Alaska-Anchorage (Anchorage, AK)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR)
University of Colorado Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs, CO)
University of Houston (Houston, TX)
University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS)
University of Texas-Pan American (Edinburg, TX)
University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA)
Statistics on Importance of STEM
Almost all of the 30 fastest-growing occupations in the next decade will require some background in STEM.
(Business Center for a College- and Career-Ready America, Achieve Report, 2013)
The US economy is predicted to add approximately 250,000 engineering positions during the next ten years.
(US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
STEM jobs comprise 20% of all US jobs.
(Brookings Institution, “The Hidden STEM Economy”, June 2013)
The 2014 top-ten college degrees ranked by starting salaries are all STEM-related, and of those, six are in engineering.
(PayScale College Salary Report, 2014)
STEM workers earn 26 percent higher wages than non-STEM workers.
(U.S. Department of Commerce Report, 2011)
The top ten majors with the greatest median income potential are all STEM-related.
(PayScale College Salary Report, 2014)
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