The UConn School of Engineering is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the impactful BRIDGE Program with a special reception on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at UConn.
The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the South Reading Room of the University’s iconic gold-domed Wilbur Cross Building. Ceremonial host Tilton L. Hughes (Mechanical Engineering ’73), who built a distinguished career with IBM, along with School of Engineering administrators and faculty, will welcome attendees at 6:30 p.m.
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RIDGE alumni, industry friends and others are invited to help us celebrate, network and chat with former classmates. Please RSVP.
The BRIDGE Program arose from the School of Engineering’s desire to enhance the diversity of its undergraduate population. BRIDGE is an intensive, residential summer preparedness program for students from populations traditionally underrepresented in engineering who have been admitted for the fall term. The program is reserved for female, African American, Hispanic, Puerto Rican and Native American students.
During the five-week program, students complete coursework in mathematics, chemistry, physics and computer programming; participate in study skills workshops and structured group study sessions; visit School of Engineering facilities and labs; tour companies and industrial operations; and engage in career building seminars. An important component of BRIDGE is the opportunity afforded participants to build a sense of community even before they begin classes in the fall, through the rigorous academic coursework and various social, community, recreational and cultural activities. Students also meet with peer mentors and role models while exploring the variety of career opportunities within engineering.
Approximately 45 students participate each summer, and those who successfully complete the BRIDGE Program are eligible for scholarship awards during their undergraduate engineering program.
In recent years, along with the state, UConn has experienced budget cuts to its academic programs that reduce the support we can offer BRIDGE participants throughout the summer program. To ensure that students from economically disadvantaged families may continue to take advantage of this important preparatory program, we invite our corporate friends and alumni to invest in BRIDGE.
To contribute, please contact Don Swinton (860- 486-8923) or Kylene Perras (860-486-8822).
