WPI Engineering Ambassadors program, sponsored by United Technologies Corporation (UTC), Ensign Bickford Industries, The Hanover Insurance Group, and BAE Systems, engages middle and high school students in the exciting opportunities present in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field. They work together as a team to challenge conventional ideas and promote opportunities available to future generations in the engineering field.
Engineering Ambassadors engage the younger generation through middle school tours, off-campus visits to schools and organizations, and on-campus events to engage others in the excitement of engineering. Ambassadors learn to effectively communicate technical information to a wide variety of audiences, providing valuable skills in the professional field.
During the program, Ambassadors develop leadership, presentation, and project management skills for their own educational and professional development. In addition, Ambassadors receive a $1,200 stipend for their involvement and also qualify for the opportunity for a potential summer internship, plus a possible job in the future, with UTC, Ensign Bickford Industries, The Hanover Insurance Group, and BAE Systems, and other sponsoring companies.
WPI was one of the four founding schools of Engineering Ambassadors, developed in 2011 to address the challenges today’s organizations face to recruit diverse, top-notch STEM engineering talent. The WPI program has grown from an original eight Ambassadors to over 40 today. WPI is exploring ways to expand the program beyond engineering to incorporate all STEM fields.