Development of statewide engineering Head Start program

The University of South Carolina is developing a \´Head Start\´ program for high school students who are interested in studying engineering. A delivery mechanism is presented for the Head Start program that uses available resources at the University of South Carolina. The delivery mechanism consists of training teachers to deliver the course material through a two-week summer workshop. The teachers\´ efforts are augmented by the participation of professional volunteers known as Engineering Resource Agents (ERAs). The content of the Head Start program is developed around course material from the university\´s "University 101E: An introduction to Engineering" (U101E) class. Additionally, the course involves students in several engineering contests to increase their practical understanding of engineering. Students also have the opportunity to make contact with university faculty and facilities giving them a physical connection with advanced engineering education environments.