From escaping zombies via cryptography to building sustainable model homes, the learning was hands-on and far-reaching for 64 Greater New Haven students who descended upon the Hamden Hall campus during the school’s exclusive week-long 2017 Summer Engineering & Science Academy.
The visiting students, all of whom were selected to attend the program based on an application process, built their own motors in an engineering class, examined a crime scene and extracted DNA in a forensics unit, and experienced the wonder of hydraulics after creating rockets in Hamden Hall’s MakerSpace Design Lab.
And that was just the start of the week! Other coursework included physics, coding, chemistry, and DNA technology.
Now in its seventh year, Hamden Hall’s Summer Engineering & Science Academy (SESA) provides opportunities to students not currently enrolled to benefit from the school’s faculty, curriculum, and learning environments. Rising fifth-, sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students enjoy enriching engagement in the fields of engineering, science, technology, and mathematics.
Applications for the 2017 Academy doubled from past years and as such, school officials increased enrollment to the program from 32 to 64 to accommodate more students. The program is fully endowed and was further funded this year by a grant from the Barnes Foundation.
The program is a component of Hamden Hall’s community outreach initiative, which seeks to interact with Greater New Haven communities to foster a strong sense of cultural, communal, and global citizenship by continuing to celebrate and exemplify the core values and traditions that have defined Hamden Hall and its students for more than a century.
As in past years, the application process was highly competitive and garnered numerous applicants vying for entrance into the program. Those ultimately selected arrived daily at 9 a.m. and were treated to two morning sessions of learning activities followed by lunch and free swim at the Beckerman Athletic Center. The afternoon also consisted of two sessions with students quickly learning the lay of the campus thanks to their guides: Hamden Hall rising seniors Amanda Carroll, Maisa Della Valle, and Chris Izzo; rising juniors JC Letizia, Jake Miceli, and Jenna Berens; and rising sophomores Mitchell Swick and Alexis "Lexi" Mackay.
Faculty members consisted of Doc Gasparro, Dr. Gina D’Angelo, Lorri Carroll, Dave Bennett, Megan Borelli, Janet Izzo, Kathy McNeiece, Keith Kaliszewski, Steve Jewett, Richard Chiaramonte, and Board of Trustees member Andy Acquarulo.
The week was capped off on Friday with a visit from the Good Humor Ice Cream truck and ice cream for all.
Click here to view a slideshow from our 2017 offering.