The Gallogly College of Engineering and the Multicultural Engineering Program recently hosted the AT&T Summer Bridge Program. The program is a four-week residential, on-campus program for incoming freshmen at the University of Oklahoma who plan to major in an engineering discipline.

The program is designed to introduce the students to the rigorous engineering coursework through course credit, team building exercises and seminars. Students complete a math and a chemistry course during the four-week program. They also work in teams to create a Rube Goldberg Machine. This allows students to begin building relationships with their peers, faculty and staff.

From the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, 17 incoming freshmen participated in the AT&T Summer Bridge Program. Director M. Cengiz Altan and Mechanical Engineering Chair Wilson Merchán-Merchán spent time with the AME students during a luncheon at Hideaway Pizza on Campus Corner. At the luncheon, students learned some basic information about the coursework at AME and were introduced to the student teams.

On July 31, 2015, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin spoke at the ExxonMobil Lawrence G. Rawl Engineering Practice Facility (REPF) about the importance of STEM programs in today’s education and in the industry. She also spoke about the impact of the AT&T Summer Bridge Program for our students. AT&T Oklahoma President Steve Hahn also spoke on behalf of AT&T and the program.

To conclude the four-week program, students finished coursework testing and also tested their Rube Goldberg Machines in REPF as family, friends, faculty and staff watched from the mezzanine.

Congratulations to the incoming students on the completion of the AT&T Summer Bridge Program. Good luck as you begin your journey as an engineering Sooner!