Purdue's STEP program sparks exploration, creativity and teamwork among rising high school seniors

Evan Sommer (left) from Wildwood, Missouri, enjoyed the collaborative environment of the Seminar for Top Engineering Prospects.

The Seminar for Top Engineering Prospects (STEP), hosted by Purdue University's College of Engineering Honors Program, welcomed over 240 high-achieving high school seniors from across the world this July. Over three weeks, students from 30 states, along with participants from Colombia and India, gathered in West Lafayette. During their week on campus, participants immersed themselves in the rigorous and collaborative world of engineering, explored how their strengths and interests align with engineering majors, and gave college life in a highly selective program a test-run.

During the program, teams of four students faced a series of distinct and challenging projects, culminating in a multifaceted design competition. The experience was eye-opening for many, including Emilia Giraudo from Villanova, Pennsylvania, who joined STEP to explore her interest in mechanical engineering.

“I don't think I’ve ever experienced something that made me so happy to work and think,” Giraudo shared, reflecting on the intensive conceptual material and application to collaborative projects developed and delivered by College of Engineering Honors Program interns.

STEP offers participants a preview of the demanding First-Year Engineering Honors Program at Purdue. The program's daily schedule is packed with activities, including introductions to Purdue’s rich history, courses on design, coding and 3D printing and various daily lab challenges. Students engage in hands-on projects like building a roller coaster, programming a song on an Arduino board and the final competition —constructing and operating an autonomous robot. With the support of current Engineering Honors students, participants are encouraged to push the boundaries of innovation.

This emphasis on creativity and problem-solving resonated with Giraudo, who initially hesitated to take creative risks. Her team’s first roller coaster design fell short, leading them to pivot to a more reliable approach at the last minute. While the revised design met the challenge requirements, the experience ignited their innovative spirit. They continued to develop unique and unexpected designs throughout the week, much to the delight of their Purdue mentors.

Emilia Giraudo, from Villanova, Pennsylvania, joined STEP to explore her interest in mechanical engineering.

By the time they reached the final robot competition, Giraudo’s team was determined to think outside the box. They created a robot with a built-in conveyor belt to move blocks swiftly and efficiently, a distinctive feature that contributed to their success in the challenge.

“It was amazing to invent something that no one else did and have it work very successfully,” Giraudo said. “Now I know that it's OK to be creative. It's OK to make mistakes, and it's OK to have a new idea, even if it fails.”

The program also emphasized the importance of teamwork in engineering. For Evan Sommer from Wildwood, Missouri, the transition from solo to collaborative work was a key learning experience.

“Many of us are used to taking over group projects in high school because we’re driven to learn,” Sommer explained. “At first, it was difficult to work together because we naturally found ourselves taking charge. But by the end of the week, we became a well-functioning team who had a lot of fun.”

STEP’s challenges mirror those that Purdue engineering students face throughout their first year, giving participants a genuine taste of what lies ahead. For Elliott Gefroh of Newcastle, Washington, the program provided valuable insights into effective teamwork and exposed him to new engineering skills.

“My team bonded, and we were able to bring out different ideas from each other’s experiences,” Gefroh said. “First, make sure that you're bonding with your team. Then you'll be able to work as a team effectively.”

Gefroh’s experience constructing an autonomous robot with his team left a lasting impression, influencing his future academic pursuits.

“Building the robot, making it autonomous, and driving it around taught me a lot about both engineering and teamwork,” he said. “Visiting Zucrow Labs, where we saw rockets being tested, really pushed me toward studying either aerospace or mechanical engineering.”

For Sommer, a highlight of the week was coding an Arduino board to play a song. His team programmed the microcontroller to sync audio with lights, choosing “Kill Bill” by SZA for their project.

“Coding the Arduino board was a new experience for me,” Sommer said. “Purdue is now one of the main schools I want to attend.”

Giraudo, who arrived at STEP with a strong interest in mechanical engineering, found her horizons broadened by the program.

“I’ve always wanted to do mechanical engineering, but STEP also opened my mind to nuclear engineering,” she said. “Talking to real engineers and women in the field during our tours confirmed my passion for engineering and the work ethic required in this field.”

Elliott Gefroh of Newcastle, Washington, said the program provided valuable insights into effective teamwork and exposed him to new engineering skills.