Engineering Career Awareness Program Marks 16th Year

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The Engineering Career Awareness Program, conceived by alumnus Troy Alley and led by Thomas "T.C." Carter, assistant dean for student success, welcomed 27 students for an intensive summer bridge program immediately before classes began.

The program is designed to recruit students who are underrepresented in the field of engineering and support them through graduation and job placement. ECAP provides financial assistance to qualifying students and a network of academic and social support.

The summer bridge component was held Aug. 1-19.

Resident coordinator Jose Sanchez-Gracias of Berryville, a biomedical engineering alumnus and member of ECAP's 12th cohort, is currently enrolled in the Master of Science in engineering management program.

"Being a part of ECAP allowed us to become part of a family that many of us thought to be impossible. Sometimes, students may feel alienated for many reasons, but ECAP allowed for all of us to bond and help each other out as we progressed through our undergraduate career," Sanchez-Gracias said. "It is truly amazing to see all the new bright new faces of the College of Engineering, and I know they will accomplish many great things in this world."

He was assisted by senior biomedical engineering student Samantha Garcia-Marquez and senior chemical engineer student Jose Sandoval, who both were part of the 13th year cohort.

Patrice Storey, assistant director for the college's Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, also assisted.

"Jose put together a magnificent program," Storey said. "Students were immersed in team building, character building and leadership building activities. Their days started bright and early with experiential learning exercises, seminars on study skills as well as presentations on diversity, equity and inclusion."

Other activities included touring area industries and volunteer work at the Historic St. James Missionary Baptist Church and Evangelism Outreach Back-2-School Drive. There were cookouts, movie nights, bowling and a visit to an amusement park.

ECAP students continue to meet once a month over dinner. The first-year cohort is paired with upper class ECAP mentors as part of the First-Year Engineering Program.

The 27 students participating in the 16th cohort are Adrian Alcantara, Springdale; Gregory Brown, Osceola; Ximena Castro, Lowell; Alexa Covarrubias, White Hall;  Montavious Eason, Hope; Tania Favela-Romo, Bauxite; Shamarion Gilmore, Bryant; Elijah Driver, Fayetteville; Kenny Jabo, Bryant; Jennifer Lopez, Van Buren; Conner McKenzie, Springdale; Joel Melendez, Springdale; Tedric Mickens, Conway; Tyler & Taylor Mitchell, Little Rock; Samera Orrantia, Smithville; Jacob Ortiz, Rogers; Cristian Osorio, Jonesboro; Destanie Patman, Hot Springs; Ivette Pizarro, Nashville; Madison Price, Alexander; Christian Sandoval, Rogers; Aaron Sims, North Little Rock; Collin Tims, Fayetteville; Issac Torres-Medrano, Springdale; and Gabrielle Vite, Lowell.