18 Jun Local Students Reach New Heights Through STEM Scholarship
Mackinze Marcott stands next to a display plane on Embry-Riddle’s campus in Prescott, AZ
For one week this summer, two McPherson County students traded their classrooms for aircraft design labs, engineering projects and a glimpse into life at one of the country’s leading aerospace universities.
Through the Jill Larson STEM Summer Camp Scholarship, Eian Pracht of Lindsborg and Mackinze Marcott of McPherson attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s aerospace engineering camp in Prescott, Arizona. Their participation was made possible through the Jill Larson STEM Summer Camp Scholarship, administered by the McPherson County Community Foundation.
The weeklong camp provided students with a hands-on introduction to aerospace engineering, allowing them to learn how aircraft are designed, tested and built. Through lectures, data analysis and design projects, participants explored concepts including aerodynamics, propulsion systems, aircraft stability and control, computer-aided design (CAD), and aircraft structures and materials.
For Marcott, an incoming senior at McPherson High School, the experience extended beyond engineering.
The trip to an aeronautical university was her first experience flying.
As an overnight camp, students lived in university residence halls, giving them a glimpse into life as a college student.
“It definitely gave me a small insight into college life,” Marcott said. “Not just my major, but the routine of living with another person in a shared space.”
The first portion of the camp focused on classroom instruction and data collection. Students learned how engineers evaluate the effectiveness of aircraft components and used software tools to analyze their findings. During the final days of camp, participants applied those lessons by designing and creating physical parts using CAD technology.
Many of the camp counselors were aerospace engineering majors at Embry-Riddle, giving students direct access to current college students pursuing careers in the field.
The camp also brought together students from across the country, creating opportunities to meet peers with similar interests and career aspirations.
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere and company I was able to share,” Marcott said. “I was surrounded by a lot of like-minded individuals, and it felt genuinely interesting to contribute to a conversation.”
Embry-Riddle’s aerospace engineering camp is offered only twice each summer, with spots often filling shortly after registration opens. As part of the Jill Larson STEM Summer Camp Scholarship, recipients receive funding to attend the program as well as guaranteed placement in the camp.
The scholarship continues to provide McPherson County students with unique opportunities to explore STEM careers, gain hands-on experience and broaden their horizons beyond the classroom.