Service First is a program created by the Kino-Eye Center, in partnership with BP and Microsoft to create the Service First program, to empower students of military families to pursue STEM education and careers in the emerging global tech economy.
The program at a glance:
- 100% free STEM education program for children of military families
- Industry partners include Microsoft and BP
- Developed and run by professional engineers, military officers, certified K-12 teachers, and university faculty
- Focus on development of leadership and teamwork skills
- Aligned with K-12 national, state, and local education standards
- Project-based STEM learning supported by local coaches and mentors
- Supported by Veteran’s Service Organizations and military leadership
- Curriculum model pilot through Rice Drone Camp achieved national recognition as an ideal model for STEM learning
- Online learning and community building support in partnership with Microsoft
Program Overview:
Service First Summer Camp – Students participate in a 3day summer camp experience that provides an intensive introduction to the math, science, engineering, and technology that drives the UAV/UAS industry.
Family Drone Days – As a follow-up to the Service First Summer Camp, students and their families attend a weekend retreat that allows parents to connect more directly with the educational growth of their children. These weekend retreats also foster a sense of community, enabling students to cultivate a peer support network. During these weekend retreats, Service First also provides career enhancement workshops that help service members integrate more competitively into the workforce.
Online Learning Support – Service First includes a structured online learning overlay, which provides educational content and resources to support a progressive acquisition and mastery of academic and technical skills.
Community Coaching and Mentorship – Working with industry partners, community groups, military support organizations, and universities, Service First facilitates ongoing coaching and mentorship support for students within their own communities. Working with these mentors and coaches, students expand their knowledge through project-based learning encounters that encourage the practical application of skills, while also promoting teamwork and collaborative relationships.
Leadership & Teamwork – The emergent global economy requires skilled technical professionals who are also able to effectively lead teams and collaborate with others to execute complex interdisciplinary projects. In order to better position U.S. engineers and tech professionals to rise as leaders in industry, we must supplement technical skills with express training in leadership and teamwork.
In addition to STEM education, Service First acculturates students to the leadership and teamworks skills that will competitively differentiate them in higher education and industry. Our leadership curriculum is developed and delivered by military officers, experienced industry professionals, and faculty from prominent university leadership centers, including the Rice University Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) and the MIT Gordon Engineering Leadership (GEL) program.