The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) this week awarded the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) and the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) with $90,000 in scholarships for summer camps emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines for middle and high school students.

Administered by TWC, the grant is part of the Governor's Summer Merit Program, which connects youth with university professors in high-impact learning situations to encourage them to pursue college and STEM-related careers.

Students accepted into the program may choose from one of three summer camps -offered free of charge to participants and valued at $950 - which include:

• The Cutting Edge to Healthcare focuses on the art and science of genetic and radiologic technology and is jointly taught by UHD professors and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center faculty members. The equipment and expertise offered in this camp are not available anywhere else in the nation. Students in grades eight through 12 will study multi-modal cancer treatments in this hands-on exploration with expert faculty and staff who will teach what the serious scientist needs to know for careers in medicine and technology.

   

  • Class Dates: June 24 - July 3 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
  • Class Locations: UHD and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

   

• Hardware and Software Secrets: Web Design on a Computer You Build Yourself begins with students building their own personal computers and installing and configuring the operating system. Students will design an interactive website in this hands-on camp, using the same cutting-edge graphics tools that professionals use to create award-winning websites. At the end of the camp, students will take home the computers they build.

   

  • Class Dates: June 10 - June 20 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
  • Class Locations: Classes offered at UHD and UHCL

   

• Hardware and Software Secrets: Program with C++ on a Computer You Build Yourself also begins with students building their own personal computers and installing and configuring the operating system. Then, students will learn the most widely used programming language today, C++, to create highly personalized projects. Students will take home the computers they build at the end of the camp.

   

  • Class Dates: July 8 - July 18 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
  • Class Locations: Classes offered at UHD and UHCL

   

Students aged 14 to 21 are encouraged to apply for the scholarships and applicants from low-income families, foster children and veterans' children will receive preferential admission. The deadline for applications is Monday, May 20. Students interested in participating must write a 200-word essay on their interest in the program and obtain approval from their school counselor and principal. For details on the scholarship program and application form, please call 713-221-8032 or visit www.compucamp2013.com/courses or www.uhd.edu/kids/courses.

"Through these interactive, real-world camps, students will get a taste of the excitement and rewards offered by careers in STEM-related fields," said G.V. Krishnan, director of the Applied Business and Technology Center at UHD. "The TWC scholarships will open the doors of medicine and computer science to many students who may never have considered college or high-tech professions. And because they are taught by leading scientists at UHD and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the camps bring top-quality expertise and instruction to tomorrow's STEM leaders."