On Friday June 23, 60 middle and high school students participated in the Cummings Aerospace Engineering Camp. The two-week summer camp introduced students to 3D design, coding, 3D printing and robotics. 

Sheila Cummings, CEO of Cummings Aerospace, said the experience exposes students at an early age to STEM-related curriculums, which may inspire some to follow in her footsteps. Cummings began her educational career at UNCP before completing an aerospace engineering degree at the University of Maryland. The Pembroke, N.C. native is now head of an engineering company considered a leading provider of high-value engineering solutions in the aerospace, defense and intelligence industry. 

“We hope we are making a great impact on the community,” Cummings said in a press release. “Not only does it give great exposure to UNCP and give them a pipeline to future students, but for those of us in the STEM field, it allows us to gain some future hires in our companies, hopefully. I’m excited to give back to the community in this way.” 

The aerospace engineering camp is a great recruiting tool for UNCP and its award-winning rocket team. The team recently won a $15,000 travel grant at a high-power rocket competition in Wisconsin. They also competed at the NASA University Student Launch at the Marshall Space Flight Center earlier this year. 

Like many after the launch on Friday, camper James Bell said flying a rocket that he invested time into designing was the best part of the camp. “I would definitely come back next year,” Bell said in a press release. “These camps help students choose what they want to study when they get older.” 

Madison Chadwick, a rising seventh grader at Littlefield Middle School, said rocketry was her favorite part of the camp. “I liked that we got to do a lot of hands-on activities, which is something we don’t really do at school,” she said in a press release. 

 “The nice thing is everything they are learning at this camp is in demand in the engineering field, so even if they only remember a fraction of what we are teaching them, it’s putting them ahead when they begin looking for a career,” remarked UNCP professor Steven Singletary in a press release.