The Engineering Challenge for the 21st Century Program was initially based on concepts from the Transferable Integrated Design Engineering Education (TIDEE) model. The TIDEE model was developed in the mid 1990s to focus on continuous improvement of engineering design education. The primary thrust of the TIDEE model focuses on team-based activities that allow students to effectively develop the necessary skills to become qualified, productive, and successful engineers and technologists of the future. The Engineering Challenge Program focuses on project based learning in a team environment and targets two important educational groups: underrepresented students as well as faculty from high schools and community colleges in Connecticut. In order to further develop the students’ interpersonal and organizational skills, the Engineering Challenge Program expands on the TIDEE model through development of technical writing and professional skills including project management, teamwork skills, understanding behavioral diversity using DISC behavioral profiles, and personal accountability. Interdisciplinary teams of high school teachers and college faculty work with a CT-based management consultant group to deliver the program by “teaching teachers” effective methods to assess and coach teamwork in the classroom and labs. The Engineering Challenge Program has impacted over 250 students composed of high school and undergraduate students from community colleges and to a lesser degree four-year universities. By targeting underrepresented student participants, the program has been effective in engaging its participants in pursuing education and careers in STEM-related disciplines. Approximately 35% of the participants have been females and 53% of the participants’ non-Caucasian.

Karen Wosczyna-Birch, a national award winning Professor of Chemistry, is the statewide director for Connecticut's College of Technology, which includes all 12 Connecticut community colleges, six universities and partner high schools including the technical high school system. She is also the executive director of the Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, a National Science Funded Advanced Technology Center, where she provides leadership for the advancement of manufacturing and related engineering and technologies. Karen also has expertise in providing professional development that includes strategies for the engagement and persistence of under represented populations in STEM disciplines. She has received awards from several organizations including the American Association for University Women (AAUW) for her work in addressing the need to increase females in engineering and technology fields as well as for her work in educating students with the skills required for the 21st century workforce.

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Three Rivers Community College offers two associate degree programs in optics/photonics, and graduates have their choice of jobs in New England and across the United States. Nonetheless, students, their parents, teachers and guidance counselors are largely unaware of the career opportunities in the photonics industry. To promote optics/photonics career awareness, we hosted two versions of "Laser Camp" in 2007 and 2008. Hands-on activities were chosen to promote awareness of optical science and technology careers and to provide "take home" information and souvenirs to share with family and friends. In this paper, we discuss the logistics of funding, marketing, permissions, transportation and food service and share our student-tested activities. Downloaded From: http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 06/23/2016 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7061 70610R-2 Downloaded From: http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 06/23/2016 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7061 70610R-5 Downloaded From: http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 06/23/2016 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx

Technical College, Florence, SC) holds a baccalaureate degree in chemical engineering from the University of Mississippi and a MBA from the University of South Carolina with additional graduate studies in mathematics. Her experience includes working as an engineer in industry as well as teaching and administration at community college and state levels. Since 1994, she has served as Executive Director of the South Carolina Advanced Technological (SC ATE) Center of Excellence, leading initiatives and grant-funded projects to develop educational leadership and increase the quantity, quality and diversity of highly skilled technicians to support the American economy. Craft currently serves as Principal Investigator (PI), Mentor-Connect: Leadership Development and Outreach for ATE; PI, South Carolina National Resource Center for Expanding Excellence in Technician Education (SCATE); Co-PI, ATE Regional Center for Aviation and Automotive Technology Education Using Virtual E-Schools (CA2VES); and Co-PI, Centers Collaborative for Technical Assistance (CCTA). The SC ATE Center is widely known for developing and broadly sharing successful educational models and practices in technician education focused on faculty development; problem-based learning curricula; mentoring; industry partnerships; student recruitment and success; research and evaluation; mentoring other technician educators nationally to broaden the impact of the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Program; and, developing STEM faculty leaders.