Elizabethtown College welcomed nearly 70 students to campus for its inaugural hands-on Engineering and Computer Science Discovery Day on Friday, March 13. Participants from six local high schools (Ephrata, Garden Spot, Lititz Christian, Milton Hershey, Palmyra, and Penn Manor) enjoyed immersive design challenges, engaged in an Etown student panel, and learned more about the College’s admissions process.
“Discovery Day reflects what defines Etown Engineering and Computer Science — nationally recognized programs, hands-on design, and students actively solving real problems,” Elizabethtown College Dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science Sara Atwood said. “We’re excited to give high school students a chance to experience that for themselves and proud to contribute to strengthening the regional workforce pipeline in these critical engineering and computing fields.”
The hands-on design challenges allowed students to choose from one of three tracks, led by Etown faculty and students:
- Hackathon: A fast-paced challenge where students interested in computer science will work together to learn coding fundamentals and build a project that challenges their creativity and problem-solving skills.
- Boats, Bridges, and Brainpower: An engineering design challenge that has participants designing and building multiple projects simultaneously for a real‑world application of engineering principles.
- Electrical Design Challenges: Featuring two hands-on workshops, students will explore various uses of electrical signals, including how engineers can “hack” the body’s systems to treat disease and improve biomedical technology.
About the School of Engineering and Computer Science
The Elizabethtown College School of Engineering and Computer Science emphasizes a broad technical foundation, offering dynamic programs that overlap disciplines including multidisciplinary engineering, artificial intelligence, software development, and information systems.