For most high school students, summer signals a time to relax, earn some money, and recharge for the coming academic year. For participants in the Engineering Summer Program (ESP) at the College of Engineering at University of Wisconsin – Madison, the summer break also includes taking the steps towards a potential career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This year, a collaboration with Trane® and RenewAire®—an energy recovery ventilator manufacturer—introduced HVAC into the program mix.

While the national focus on STEM has ramped up in the past two decades, ESP was way ahead of the curve, having been established in 1972. Annually, about 40 rising high school juniors and seniors engage in a free, three-week residential program with interactive programming that gives a taste of the first-year engineering experience at UW – Madison.

“Students can take classes in math, physics, chemistry, and engineering design and receive mentoring from faculty,” says Sara Rothe, director of the ESP program. “Plus, they also get to enjoy the campus and the city of Madison, taking part in teambuilding activities such as ropes courses and paddleboarding.”

A Tour with a Twist

Weekly industrial tours are among the program highlights, immersing students in what it’s like to be an engineer in the field. The established relationships between Trane, RenewAire, and UW made for a perfect match. “UW reached out to our VP of Engineering and Technology Tom Gallant, who's a longtime supporter of their Leaders in Engineering Excellence and Diversity (LEED®) Scholars Program and also works with their grad student researchers,” says Tyler Schmitz, Trane Systems Sales Leader supporting the Wisconsin region. “As Trane’s closest manufacturing facilities are about two hours away, we reached out to RenewAire, a key industry collaborator of ours that is conveniently located in Waunakee, WI, just across Lake Mendota from the UW Madison campus!” RenewAire eagerly accepted the invitation, given the numerous connections RenewAire has with UW, including the use of their pioneering Quick Response Manufacturing technique.

The July 26 session lasted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and included a tour of RenewAire’s sustainable LEED® Gold certified facility, a demonstration that showcased how RenewAire’s energy recovery ventilators works in concert with Trane controls, and presentations by various professionals discussing their roles in key engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, chemical and design).

“The students were fantastic, with great questions and great attitude,” says Scott Forest, president of RenewAire. “Our future is in great hands.”

The day was also spiced up with a little friendly pre-lunch competition. “We were fortunate enough to have Bill Nelson, Trane Educator in Residence, in attendance,” says Schmitz. For the hands-on activity, Nelson broke up the students into eight groups, and tasked them with collecting voltage output data from miniature wind turbines while experimenting with the blades and gear ratios. “The top three teams got their pizza first, but the real goal was to understand the process engineers go through in real life: making predictions, collecting data, and sharing knowledge across teams on what worked and what didn’t.”

Inspiring Future Engineers

This year was the most competitive yet for ESP, with 328 applicants—100 more than last year—vying for just 40 spots. Since 1972, about 2000 students have participated in total. As of the most recent data, about 70% of ESP alumni end up matriculating into some sort of engineering program at the collegiate level, and 40% attend UW – Madison. “Sometimes our program will show students that engineering isn't quite what they thought it was, and other times they might pursue other STEM-related fields,” says Rothe. “While we’d love to see 100% of them become UW Badger engineers, the main thing is that we create a safe atmosphere for students to explore and challenge themselves.”

ESP alumnus Jay Flores participated in the program in 2006 and has been a rockstar ever since, currently serving as a Global STEM Ambassador and the founder of Invent the Change. Flores earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from UW –Madison, and at just 19 became the youngest board member in history for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. If his name sounds familiar, you may have seen him on American Ninja Warrior, as the host of PBS’s innovation show Make48, or on Telemundo or ESPN.

“Growing up I didn't have much exposure to role models in the STEM fields, but ESP fueled my determination to become an engineer,” Flores says. “Now I'm creating pathways for others by helping all children, regardless of background, to stay curious about science and see themselves in STEM fields.”

“Jay is a phenomenal person who is dedicated to giving back to communities and inspiring students to chase their engineering dreams,” Rothe says. “When ESP celebrated our 50th anniversary, he was super excited to come back and open up the ceremony.”

Harnessing the Next Generation of HVAC Engineering Talent

“Trying to hire engineers right now is very difficult, particularly when you're working in a discipline that not everybody understands,” says Doug Kirchner, RenewAire’s Midwest Regional Sales Director. “Energy recovery ventilation and heat transfer aren’t something that hits everyone’s radar, but having the students understand what we do—and embrace our mission of giving back to the environment instead of taking from it—I think we become a far more interesting option for them.”

Collaborating with UW ESP represents the newest way for Trane to cultivate the next generation of engineers, along with existing STEM education initiatives such as the Trane BTU Crew for K-12 students and the NC3 Certification program at the undergraduate level.

“As a company, Trane has a clear goal to give back to the communities we serve, and ESP is a unique way to do that—volunteering our time to help the next generation of engineers, manufacturers, and even salespeople,” Schmitz says. “As I sat on the panel, it was cool looking out and seeing how diverse the group was. We’re always asking how we can hire more diverse talent, especially in engineering, and the answer really starts at the middle school and high school level.”