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Project Lead the Way at Bradley University

Project Lead the Way National

PLTW High School Program

Kern Family Foundation Grant Program

BEST/STEPS Summer Camp

Project Lead the Way

Project Lead the Way is a national not-for-profit organization established to make current middle and high schools and their students more aware of the role engineers play in the workforce and the academic requirements necessary to qualify for entrance into a undergraduate collegiate program. The College of Engineering and Technology at Bradley University Engineers for Tomorrow program has partnered with Project Lead the Way to implement a sequence of pre-engineering courses in selected high schools. This effort is further supported by the Kern Family Foundation that has competitive grants available to pay for teacher and counselor training, computer lab upgrades and other start-up expenses.

The mission of Project Lead the Way is to create dynamic partnerships with our nation’s secondary schools to prepare an increasing and more diverse group of students to be successful in engineering and/or engineering technology programs. The program currently operates in 30 states from New York to California with Bradley University as a participating university. Illinois is a targeted state with support from the Governor’s Economic Development Initiatives, the Illinois State Board of Education and the University of Illinois. The High School Program is a four year sequence of scholastic courses, in conjunction with traditional mathematics and science courses, that introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering prior to entering college. Those not intending to pursue further formal education will still benefit greatly from the knowledge and logical thought processes that result from taking some or all of the courses provided in the curriculum.

Bradley University, with a grant from the Kern Family Foundation, initiated a program for the development of future engineering workforce for industry. This program was initiated to encourage more young people to consider engineering as a career choice and then to provide them a path to gain the education and experience needed to be successful in that carrer field. The Kern Family Foundation is a major source of available funding for the start-up of the Project Lead the Way curriculum. Public or private schools wishing to find out more information about the Kern Family Foundation should follow the link on the left side of the screen.