Nearly 100 Memphis students learn about engineering through West Tennessee STEM Hub's Bridges to Engineering program
July 2, 2026
Nearly 100 students from 50 schools in the Memphis area got their first taste of engineering through the West Tennessee STEM Hub's Bridges to Engineering summer program.
Throughout three weeks, the West Tennessee STEM Hub and the Herff College of Engineering welcomed elementary, middle and high school students. Those children heard from industry professionals, competed in team-based design challenges, and received mentorship from STEM Ambassadors, mostly Herff College of Engineering graduate and undergraduate students.
A group of middle school students even heard about the benefits of engineering careers from Memphis Mayor Paul Young, who holds a degree in electrical and computer engineering and who surprised the children during a special visit on Wednesday, June 24.
The program concluded on Wednesday, July 1, with teams of high school students presenting projects to Herff judges Dr. Hayden Carlton and Dr. Car. Herickoff. Each team was given a booklet with data and presented with the same challenge: to reduce traffic congestion and flooding in the fictional city of Rossville. Those high school students were also treated to a tour of the college and allowed to visit several research labs on campus.