
San Francisco's high school students with a knack for engineering just got another boost, as local programs inspired by GE Aerospace Foundation's Next Engineers initiative are driving more young people—like Cincinnati’s own Kallab Hailu Abebe—to pursue careers in this crucial field. Abebe, now enrolled at the University of Cincinnati, credits the Engineering Academy program for his head start in mechanical engineering, where students spend three years on campus at UC honing their ability to think and collaborate as engineers. According to an interview with Abebe reported by the University of Cincinnati, "The Engineering Academy is a very important program that can put you above and ahead entering college."
Students in this program aren't just dealing with textbooks and theories, they're getting their hands dirty—designing and creating real projects such as rainwater-collecting domes and experimenting with materials and methods to solve genuine problems, experiences that Abebe recounted as particularly transformative, according to the University of Cincinnati, "It was the first time I'd ever done anything like this, which made it more challenging." But along with the challenges, they also gain opportunities to visit industry sites like the GE Aerospace testing plant, where the practical side of engineering comes to life, which for Abebe, who has a passion for engines and transportation, turned out to be inspiring enough to steer his academic path.
The partnership between GE Aerospace Foundation and the University of Cincinnati is a testament to the power of community collaboration, creating a pipeline for local talent straight into the engineering sector. Whitney Gaskins, PhD, associate dean of the CEAS Office of Professional Development and Community Impact, told the University of Cincinnati, "Through the Next Engineers program, we are not just shaping young minds, but empowering them to shape the future of engineering." With incentives like scholarships for program graduates who pursue an engineering degree, the initiative is not only educating but also investing in the next generation of engineers.