Kentucky State University hosted their 2023 Summer Transportation Institute (STI) Camp for high school students on campus. The camp was a two-week residential camp consisting of fourteen students. The KY Transportation Cabinet and Federal Highway Administration sponsored the camp.  The students engaged with the Rollover Simulator in action at the Kentucky transportation Cabinet, in addition to science and engineering aspects of the KY Transportation Cabinet Materials Lab.  Campers participated in a bridge design challenge with the Kentucky Engineering Exposure Network and explored other opportunities within the transportation industry.  Youth had the opportunity to fly a plane through a partnership with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles program and the Capital City Airport.   

Participants also did a drone mapping lesson to get the glimpse of what a Geospatial Information Specialist does and they visited the Environmental Education Research Center through Kentucky State University's Cooperative Extension program.

The students completed a pre- post survey to measure their interests before and after camp.   The survey was on a scale of 1-5 stars, with one representing the lowest rating and five the highest.  They rated their interest in doing Science, Engineering or Technology (SET) projects before the camp 3.86 stars vs 4.36 stars afterwards, their interest in learning more about SET careers was 3.34 stars before vs 4.14 stars afterwards and their interest in pursuing a degree in SET was 3.5 stars before verses 4.36 stars afterwards.  

The camp had such a positive influence that four students applied to attend Kentucky State University.

86% of the students indicated that 4-H is a place where they can figure things out on their own and 100% of them rated 4-H as a place where they have a chance to be a leader.