child education
NASA Helps Fund Minority Institutions Preparing Students for College
High school students from traditionally underrepresented and underserved communities will have a path to pursue careers in STEM with help from NASA.
Last Updated on July 27, 2024 by Daily News Staff
Credits: NASA
High school students from traditionally underrepresented and underserved communities will have a path to pursue careers in STEM with help from NASA. The agency announced Monday it has selected seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and one Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) to receive more than $3 million in funding to strengthen their support for students in those communities in precollege summer programs around the nation.
“As we explore the cosmos for the benefit of all humanity, NASA remains steady in its effort to lift as we soar. NASA is not only committed to inspiring the Artemis Generation – we’re working to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed,” said NASA’s Senior Advisor for Engagement and Equity Shahra Lambert. “This funding will help open doors of opportunity for high school students across the country to help prepare and empower them for the future.”
MUREP Precollege Summer Institute (PSIs) uses evidence-based strategies to enhance high school students’ precollege performance, prepare them for college entrance, and ultimately help them achieve success in their higher education pursuits and in science, technology, engineering, and math careers.
“This project gives students an opportunity to experience what it’s like to live on a college campus, attend classes, and build relationships with professors and like-minded peers,” said Torry Johnson, MUREP project manager. “What makes this program special is that it’s tied to NASA research. Students will be participating in engineering design challenges and research related to NASA missions with support from NASA subject matter experts.”
The selected institutions and their proposed projects under NASA’s MUREP (Minority University Research and Education Project) are:
Albany State University, Georgia
ASU Accelerated Research Training Experience and Mentorship in STEM (ARTEMIS) 2.0 PSI Scholars Program
Albany State University (ASU) propose a two-week residential camp for students interested in pursuing a STEM-based career. Using the theme “Mission to Mars,” students will participate in NASA activities related to power generation and transmission; remote and autonomous vehicles and rocket propulsion; the geology of Earth and other planets; and the biology and chemistry of space travel. Students will become immersed in the expectations of life as a STEM student at ASU, gain useful knowledge about the campus, and build support networks to help ensure success in their life and in academics. ASU was awarded $425,000 for its proposal.
Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia
Artificial Intelligence Study in Earth Exploration Summer Academy
Clayton State University proposes to host a NASA-themed summer program for minority high school students. This program will provide eight-day summer residential STEM camp exposing participants to college life, NASA research, Earth data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Participants will gain an understanding of NASA’s missions and learn how to apply AI technology to solve real-world problems in Earth science. Clayton State University was awarded $425,000 for its proposal.
Fayetteville State University, North Carolina
Fayetteville State University’s NASA MUREP Precollege Summer Institute: Cutting-Edge Technologies for Examining Climate Change (FSU-CTECC)
Fayetteville State University (FSU) proposes two-week long residential summer STEM camps over the five-year period of the project. Each year, 20 high school students will be recruited from high schools in Cumberland County and its surrounding counties in North Carolina. Project partners include NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and multiple academic organizations and industries to provide STEM workshops for the students. FSU was awarded $423,487 for its proposal.
Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri
Digital Agriculture, Data Science, and Robotics: Applied Research and Training for Enhancing Motivation in Science (DDR-ARTEMIS)
In collaboration with the University of Missouri, Lincoln University proposed two identical and intensive nine-day residential summer camps designed to offer keys for success for the participating students to advance their careers in STEM fields as undergraduate students and beyond. Each summer camp will accommodate 12 students for a total of 24 students each year. The educational program will provide hands-on experience for underrepresented minority students in digital agriculture, data science, and robotics to develop a broad understanding of STEM careers along with professional development activities and interaction with STEM professionals and entrepreneurs. Lincoln University was awarded $424,403 for its proposal.
Credits: NASA
Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee
Collaborative Interactive Data Science Academy
With the goal to stimulate curiosity in the cross-cutting field of data science and emerging technologies, Meharry Medical College proposed a discovery-based summer experience that implements virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality control of robotic systems using NASA geospatial and extra-terrestrial big data. This summer program will expose high school students to NASA research and data science tools; build statistical and critical thinking skills; and inspire the next generation of explorers, researchers, and data scientists. Meharry Medical College was awarded $418,448 for its proposal.
Tuskegee University, Alabama
Tuskegee’s Summer Institute for Increasing Diversity Among Incoming STEM Undergraduates
The focus of Tuskegee’s Summer Institute is to prepare students for college and retain students in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The project will equip prospective college students with basic skills necessary for success in college and close the STEM education gap for students from underserved communities. Tuskegee was awarded $424,939 for its proposal.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne
HAWKS MUREP Precollege Summer Institute (PSI)
The University of Maryland, Eastern Shore (UMES) proposes to establish a two-week residential program designed to increase the participation and retention of historically underserved and underrepresented high school students in STEM. Learning activities are aligned to NASA’s themes of space exploration, aeronautics, and Earth science. Students will have the opportunity to visit NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. UMES partnered with NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility for mentoring, job shadowing, and involvement in real-life STEM projects, research, and activities. UMES was awarded $425,000 for its proposal.
University of The Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie
The NASA-UVI Pre-College Engineering Summer Institute
The focus of this proposal is to enroll a minimum of 20 students from the public high schools on St. Thomas and St. Croix in a one-week summer residential experience on-campus at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). Students will be exposed to the fundamentals of scientific and engineering methods, engage in discussions about career paths, develop relationships with STEM professionals in the U.S. Virgin Islands and NASA, and engage in professional development activities designed to help them prepare for a successful transition to college. UVI was awarded $424,998 for its proposal.
Administered by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, MUREP supports and invests in the research, academic, and technology capabilities of minority-serving institutions. Learn more:
Source: NASA
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child education
Preparing the Next Generation for Economic Mobility in an AI-Driven World
AI-Driven World: Within only a few years, AI has already changed many things about the world and workforce. Entry-level jobs, particularly the ones relying on routine and predictable tasks, are increasingly disappearing to automation, leaving young people wondering how to launch their careers and futures. To learn what preparing students for the future may look like in practice, consider these tips.
Preparing the Next Generation for Economic Mobility in an AI-Driven World
(Feature Impact) Within only a few years, AI has already changed many things about the world and workforce. Entry-level jobs, particularly the ones relying on routine and predictable tasks, are increasingly disappearing to automation, leaving young people wondering how to launch their careers and futures.
Access to economic mobility – the ability to change your income or wealth – doesn’t just rely on technical knowledge and skills but on leaning into humanity. Being able to think outside the box, collaborate, solve problems and grow as a person can open doors in life and at work. AI may be changing the world, but in change lies opportunity. The students who can adapt quickly are more likely to prosper as the economy continues to reshape itself.
To learn what preparing students for the future may look like in practice, consider these tips from the economic and career experts at Junior Achievement.
Build the Kinds of Skills AI Can’t Replace
Young people facing AI as their competition can get a boost from cultivating the uniquely human skills technology can’t replicate. Educators, parents and other adults in kids’ lives can help them develop increasingly important soft skills like critical thinking, communication, teamwork and leadership, which can translate to many different careers. Hands-on skills can fit into this category as well, like the kinds required in entrepreneurship and the trades.
Provide Real-World Experiences
When young people have the chance to test themselves in a real-world setting, it lets them hone their interests, skills and confidence before the time comes to make major decisions about their futures. As early as elementary school, experiential learning activities like Junior Achievement’s Biztown allow students to operate businesses, work with others, manage finances and solve problems, combining in-class learning with hands-on simulations. As kids grow up, other options can include job shadowing, internships and entrepreneurship experiments – all ways to build durable social and professional skills that can help them succeed.
Teach Foundational Financial Literacy
Earning money is only part of the equation for a healthy financial future; equally important is understanding how to manage it. As kids prepare to earn their first sources of income, make sure they’re also equipped with practical financial skills like budgeting, saving, investing, using credit wisely and planning for future goals. Giving them these tools early helps them make informed decisions about their long-term economic advancement.
Connect Students with Employers and Opportunities
Sometimes, all a student needs to succeed is someone who’s willing to give them a chance. Young people in a position to meet business professionals in (and beyond) their communities may be able to turn those connections into future opportunities. This can happen naturally as they seek real-world experiences through apprenticeships, mentorship programs, career fairs and more.
Programs like Junior Achievement’s 3DE puts students in authentic business challenges, connecting them with educators, business partners and volunteers as they work in teams to complete case experiences. This not only gives young people the opportunity to meet potential employers or mentors, it also lets them demonstrate critical thinking, social skills and real-world competence.
Visit jausa.ja.org for more ideas to help young people gain the confidence and connections needed to achieve economic mobility in a changing world.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
child education
Where Curiosity Builds Trade Skills: 5 Ways to Help Kids Discover the Skilled Trades
Help Kids Discover the Skilled Trades: Parents, educators and mentors can encourage young people to broaden their horizons as they plan their futures and build awareness around careers in the skilled trades with these tips.
Where Curiosity Builds Trade Skills: 5 Ways to Help Kids Discover the Skilled Trades
(Feature Impact) Most students hear questions about what they want to be when they grow up. By the time their middle and high school years arrive, they’re often starting to consider their answers more in depth. Conversations with adults can help shape their awareness of and interest in various career paths, including skilled trades.
When they’re provided with opportunities to learn, build, experiment and solve problems, young people can discover whether their talents and passions are a good fit for a career in the trades. Programs likePath to Pro Skills Explorers, launched by The Home Depot in partnership with Scouting America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, provide free, accessible ways to introduce students to options like the plumbing, construction and electrical fields, as well as content on leadership and soft skills.
Parents, educators and mentors can encourage young people to broaden their horizons as they plan their futures and build awareness around careers in the skilled trades with these tips.
Start Career Conversations Early
Choosing a career path doesn’t have to be one intimidating, life-changing moment. Parents and mentors can normalize career conversations by starting them early and keeping things casual. Opening the dialogue sparks curiosity about the activities kids enjoy and allows them to start connecting those interests to potential career paths. To get started, set kids up with access to online programs, videos and introductory courses so they can explore a variety of possibilities.
Turn Curiosity Into Hands-On Learning
For many students, learning by doing is the most satisfying way to test, improve and build skills. Instead of only reading textbooks or listening to instructors, offer them the chance to follow a plan, work with different materials, troubleshoot problems and build something tangible. Young people considering hands-on careers need hands-on practice to develop confidence and adaptability. Take the first step by researching online resources and local opportunities for classes, job shadowing or even apprenticeships.
Recognize the Skills Kids Are Already Building
Skilled trades aren’t just about knowing which wires to connect or what tool to reach for. They also rely on a variety of soft skills like communication, patience, critical thinking, time management, attention to detail and more. When kids demonstrate these traits, point them out and encourage them. Take opportunities to let them experiment with hands-on projects, whether they want to try building a treehouse, repairing a bike or tinkering with technology.
Expand Views of Career Pathways and Success
The road to success is more like an intersection. Let young people know there are many pathways to fulfilling careers and futures, and while the traditional college-to-career plan can still be a viable option, it isn’t the only one. Skilled trades offer competitive salaries, job security and the opportunity to learn hands-on skills that will always be in demand. Even in a world where technology is rapidly changing many career fields, it takes skilled workers to replace roofs, repair electrical systems, fix sewer lines and lead disaster recovery efforts.
Find Programs That Make Skilled Trades Exploration Accessible
There is a gap between labor supply and demand in the trades, and it’s only widening as older generations approach retirement age. Programs like The Home Depot’s Skills Explorers are designed to empower young people to step into these roles by providing a mix of online resources and hands-on activities to explore viable career paths. As a key part of a commitment by The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation to deliver 15 million introductions to the skilled trades by 2032, the program offers an accessible, no-cost curriculum for youth education groups to learn what it’s like to work in these important fields.
“For years, The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation’s Path to Pro program have helped separating military, career changers and others build pathways to the trades,” said Michael Rowe, executive vice president of Pro for The Home Depot. “We know that closing the skilled labor gap starts much earlier. We need more young people to see what’s possible and understand the lucrative opportunities these careers provide.”
Visit pathtopro.com/skills-explorers to access the free curriculum and discover how to bring hands-on skilled trade exploration to students.
SOURCE:
🔧 Curiosity today can become a skill for tomorrow. Giving kids opportunities to build, fix, create, and explore trades at an early age can turn natural curiosity into confidence, practical skills, and even inspiration for a future career. Whether it’s woodworking, automotive repair, cooking, electronics, or construction, hands-on learning shows kids that there’s more than one path to success. Visit: https://stmdailynews.com/lifestyle/
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Zum Begins 2026–27 School Year With Expanded Student Transportation Network
Zum is launching the 2026–27 school year with expanded school bus operations in Fresno, Los Angeles and other communities, bringing real-time tracking and modern transportation technology to students and families.
New partnerships in Fresno and Kansas join ongoing operations in Omaha, St. Louis, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles
As millions of students return to classrooms, transportation company Zūm is beginning the 2026–27 school year with new district partnerships, expanded technology deployments and thousands of drivers preparing for what the company calls “the most important commute in America.”
The Redwood City, California-based student mobility company announced that its teams have completed months of driver training, route validation and operational planning ahead of the new academic year.
“There is nothing quite like the first day of school at Zum,” founder and CEO Ritu Narayan said in the company’s announcement. “You see drivers arriving before sunrise, teams making final preparations and buses rolling out of yards across the country—all united around one purpose: getting students safely and reliably to school.”
New buses roll out in Fresno
One of Zūm’s largest new launches is in California’s Fresno Unified School District. According to the company, 168 buses were placed into service just two weeks after its local team moved into a new transportation yard.
The district is also introducing the Zūm Parent App, which allows families to track buses in real time, receive arrival alerts, view scheduled rides and receive notifications when a child boards or exits a bus. Registered students will receive bus cards connected to the transportation system, according to Fresno Unified.
The rollout is part of a broader change in how Fresno Unified manages student transportation. Routes and stops will continue to be evaluated using registration information, actual ridership and family feedback, the district says. Beginning September 28, registered students will generally be required to show a bus pass before boarding. Fresno Unified’s transportation page provides registration instructions and assistance for families.
Technology comes to LAUSD’s in-house fleet
In Los Angeles, Zūm says its CMX technology has been deployed across the Los Angeles Unified School District’s internally operated bus fleet.
The platform is designed to connect routing, dispatch, drivers, schools, transportation officials and families through one operating system. Its tools include real-time vehicle visibility, route planning, operational coordination and family communications.
Rather than replacing the district’s in-house drivers, the Los Angeles deployment focuses on providing the technology used to coordinate district-operated buses.
New partnership in Kansas
Zūm also began a new partnership with the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas. District leaders, drivers, monitors and school employees marked the start of the program with a launch celebration.
The company said Shawnee Mission’s transition is intended to give the district a more modern and technology-supported approach to student transportation.
Meanwhile, Zūm is returning for a third school year in Omaha and Santa Barbara. Its St. Louis operation is entering its second year.
Drivers remain at the center
Although technology plays a growing role in school transportation, Zūm emphasized that drivers remain essential to the daily experience of students and their families.
“Back to school is when months of preparation come to life,” said Liz Sanchez, Zūm’s executive vice president of student mobility. “Our teams spend months hiring and training drivers, validating routes and working alongside our district partners to prepare.”
Drivers often serve as the first school-related adults students see in the morning and the last they see before returning home. Their work can also determine whether students arrive safely and on time—especially in communities where families have limited transportation choices.
A changing school-bus experience
School transportation has traditionally depended on separate systems for scheduling, dispatching, vehicle tracking and communicating with parents. Zūm CMX is designed to bring those functions together and give school districts a clearer view of their daily operations.
For families, the most visible change may be access to real-time bus locations and arrival notifications. These tools can reduce some of the uncertainty associated with late buses, route changes and missed pickups.
Zūm reports that its technology and transportation services now support more than 6,500 schools across 19 states. As the company expands, the 2026–27 school year will test how effectively its technology, drivers and district partnerships can translate into dependable daily service.
For students, however, the goal remains straightforward: a safe ride to school, a reliable trip home and one less obstacle between them and their education.
This article is based primarily on information provided in an August 21, 2026, Zūm press release. Statements about the company’s national reach, fleet deployments and technology are attributed to Zūm unless independently noted.
Source: Zūm official website
Related links:
- Fresno Unified: Zūm Parent App
- Fresno Unified: New Transportation Model
- Fresno Unified: Bus Routes
- Fresno Unified: Back-to-School Resources
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