K – 12 Programs
Inspiring Tomorrow’s Engineers
The Vergnano Institute for Impact is committed to fostering connection and passion in the engineering and STEM fields. The following programs are offered for K- 12 students. They are designed to inspire and ecourage students from all backgrounds to be the engineers of tomorrow by introducing STEM concepts and laying the foundation for future success. Our programs offer a rich and encompassing environment where we foster different avenues of building a well educated and intellectually diverse STEM community. If you have any questions, please contact us.
AI Camp
The AI Summer Camp is a week‑long program designed to introduce high school students to the foundations of Artificial Intelligence in an accessible, inspiring, and hands‑on environment.
Engineering Your Future
This is an interactive conference designed for 8th grade students featuring hands-on activities facilitated by our amazing Engineering students, as well as interactive speakers. We highly encourage CT Alliance District Schools and/or Title I schools to attend. All schools are welcome to apply. We welcome all students interested in STEM, regardless of background, identity and experiences.
Explore Engineering
The UConn Explore Engineering Program is a two week residential STEM summer camp for current high school sophomores and juniors. Participants work in groups with engineering faculty and students to learn what engineers do in the workplace and see engineering concepts live. Through our Grand Challenges, students fabricate an engineering discipline-specific device, which will be showcased at a end-of-program demonstration.
Multiply Your Options (MYO)
This is an interactive conference designed for 8th grade students featuring hands-on activities facilitated by our amazing Engineering students, a majority of them from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) as well as interactive speakers – including inspirational UConn Engineering Alumni, many of them who are women or in the SWE Professional chapter, and other close friends who are engineers in CT.
Science Bowl
Every Spring, students representing northeastern secondary schools compete to test their knowledge in all major areas of science and mathematics. The Science Bowl at the University of Connecticut provides students with a competition venue, as well as STEM presentations throughout the day. UConn, The College of Engineering, and The Vergnano Institute for Impact are proud to host regional competitions towards the National Science Bowl, sponsored by the Department of Energy.
SPARK
SPARK is a summer camp designed to support the success of current 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th grade female students interested in STEM. Students will challenge themselves by incorporating math and science skills into hands-on projects and experiments, exciting engineering concepts, and fun activities. SPARK is committed to the safety and equal opportunity for girls in this program by providing single-sex dormitories and single-sex athletics during the program.
Queer Science
Queer Science (QS) is a one-day conference designed to support the success of high school who students who are or are allies of LGBTQIA+ students in CT. This event is facilitated by proud LGBTQIA+ students and researchers at UConn. Anyone is welcome to attend this positive day filled with STEM activities and lab tours.
Pre Engineering Program
The Pre-Engineering Program (PEP) is an enrichment program for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students that includes hands-on math and science exploratory activities aimed at increasing interest in careers involving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).