The Summer Bridge Program

HāKilo Summer Ecology Experience Application

HāKilo 2 Summer Ecology Experience Application (for students going into their second year of college)

‘IKE Summer Engineering Experience 1 Application

Summer Bridge Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Completed (or will have completed by the Summer of 2013) three or more math courses in high school 
  2. Completed (or will have completed by the Summer of 2013) chemistry and/or physics.
  3. Planning to attend college in Hawaii and major in a STEM discipline.

Summer Bridge Application Requirements:

  1. Completed Summer Bridge application (link above)
  2. One letter of recommendation from a high school science or math teacher, counselor, or administrator
  3. A copy of your current high school transcript
  4. Personal Statement: Tell us your story and help us to get to know you in 500 words or less. Please share with us your experiences, career/life goals, and other interests.

Please complete the online application and submit the other required materials to:

Mrs. Keolani Noa, STEM Outreach Coordinator
Kapi’olani Community College
4303 Diamond Head Road, Kalia 101
Honolulu, HI 96816

Alternatively, the required materials can also be faxed or emailed to:

Attn: Mrs. Keolani Noa, STEM Outreach Coordinator
Fax: (808) 734-9151
Email: kccstem@hawaii.edu

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at:

Phone: (808) 734-9236
Email: keolani@hawaii.edu
Website: http://stem.kcc.hawaii.edu

The Kapi‘olani Community College STEM Summer Bridge Program brings together high school students, college student peer mentors, and college faculty to help students prepare for the rigors of college math and science. The program runs Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a two-hour math preparation class and an hour of collaborative study. After completion of the KapCC Summer Bridge Program, participants may be eligible for a $1200/semester STEM Research Internship or a $3000/semester Peer Mentorship upon enrollment at KapCC. To learn about past Summer Bridge Programs, please click on the links in the menu bar to the left.

The program has two tracks: HāKilo (ecology) or ‘IKE (engineering) that feature learning and work opportunities in these fields each afternoon. Over the summer, students not only learn about college, they also explore the relevance of modern science and engineering to sustainability and Hawai`i’s past, present, and future.

In the HāKilo Summer Ecology Experience, students explore ecology through ‘āina focused activities. Projects have included biodiesel processing and ahupua‘a-level water quality assessment in urban O‘ahu and this year will focus on poi and kalo microbiology and aquaponics food systems. Students meet professionals, participate in service learning, and through direct experience, learn about careers in environmental fields from natural resource management to oceanography.

In the `IKE Summer Engineering Experience, students explore engineering through hands-on design projects. Projects this year will focus on aquaponics energy and pumping systems and electric guitar design and construction. Through visits to different sites, students learn about opportunities in sustainability-related engineering on O‘ahu. Students opting to continue on the Kapi‘olani CC ‘IKE pre-engineering pathway move together as a cohort in the following years to ensure successful transfer to the UHM College of Engineering. `IKE SEE1 is part of a 6-campus collaboration to build stronger UH system pre-engineering pathways. Participating campuses include also Windward, Leeward, Honolulu Community Colleges and UH Maui College.

Additionally, Kapi‘olani Community College is a recipient of the National Science Foundation S-STEM grant. This grant funds scholarships to select students pursuing STEM careers. STEM students may receive up to $3600 per year (in bi-annual increments) for 1 to 3 years. A reduced award (up to $1500) is available to exceptional Senior Summer Bridge participants.

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