The SMA Engineering Program prepares young women for successful college careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). By engaging in a cross-disciplinary classroom experience as well as design projects and team competitions with other schools, girls graduate from the program fully qualified and motivated to meet the demands of STEM courses in college. The program is certified by Project Lead the Way, a nationwide coordinated engineering education curriculum, and affiliated with USFIRST, the worldwide high school robotics competition. For these reasons, and because of the focus on mathematics and science, the SMA Engineering Program is unique among all-female high schools in the Los Angeles area.
This year we’re offering two classes: Principles of Engineering and Introduction to Engineering Design.
Principles of Engineering is required for all Engineering students, elective for other students. Designed for 10th or 11th grade students, this survey course exposes students to major concepts they‘ll encounter in a postsecondary engineering course of study. Topics include mechanisms, energy, statics, materials, and kinematics. They develop problem-solving skills and apply their knowledge of research and design to create solutions to various challenges, document their work and communicate solutions.
Students in action in POE:
The engineering lab now equipped with 3D printers:
Introduction to Engineering Design is also required for all Engineering students, and an elective for other students. Designed for 9th or 10th grade students, the major focus of Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) is the design process and its application. Through hands-on projects, students apply engineering standards and document their work. Students use industry standard 2D modeling software to help them design solutions to solve proposed problems, document their work using an engineer‘s notebook, and communicate solutions to peers and members of the professional community.
This year we welcomed 7 freshman into the program that are currently taking IED:
Many of our engineering students are also on our robotics team, The SMArtBots. Anyone is welcome to be part of the team though, you don’t have to be in the engineering program. They work countless hours with their mentors building a robot for competition. They’ve already competed once this semester and will compete again next semester.
Most recently our engineering students and some members of SMArtBots got to go on a tour of SpaceX! No photos are allowed inside the SpaceX facility because of sensitive material but it is something they will never forget. Enginnering student Amy Pinto-Quintanilla had this to say about the trip:
“On November 19, members of the SMArt Bots Robotics and Engineering Program had the opportunity to tour the factory floor of the company SpaceX. SpaceX is a rocket manufacturing corporation that constructs shuttles to carry cargo to the International Space Station. They also build satellites for NASA. On this trip, thanks to the generosity and connections with SpaceX, the girls were able walk onto the factory floor where they saw real world engineers and technicians actively constructing their products. They were able to ask numerous questions not only about the work SpaceX does, but as well as the opportunities for college internships and possible career opportunities.
The girls also saw their first 3D metal printer which heated certain kinds of melted to thousands of degrees and printed our designs according to the specifications of the engineers. Even the mentors were impressed!
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the ladies and they were very grateful, impressed, and excited for the future. Thank you SpaceX!”
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