ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp
Program Fact Sheet

Former astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. founded the summer science camp program in 1994. In 2006, ExxonMobil
joined in sponsoring Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas, and
Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Since 2006, the program has impacted more than 19,000 students.

This year, camps are being offered at 10 universities across the United States.

The camps encourage math and science education, motivate youth to stay in school, foster leadership and
citizenship and instill responsibility, fairness and respect.

The program is student-centered, team-oriented and collaborative, with practical, real-world experiences and
connections that build self-confidence, decision-making and critical thinking skills.

Camps are held in June, July and August.

Students attend the camp at no cost and stay in dorms on campus. Each camp is held over a two-week period.

The camps are facilitated by faculty at each university. University faculty, secondary teachers and other
professionals teach classes. In addition, college and university students serve as senior camp counselors.

Camps consist of classroom study, experiments, individual/team/group projects, weekly field excursions and
guest speakers who motivate students to fulfill their dreams.

Camp goals are to:
 Enhance students’ proficiency in science, technology, engineering and mathematics;
 Increase students’ ability to successfully complete university and college programs in these disciplines in the
future; and
 Enrich educators’ expertise in science and mathematics and enhance their teaching skills.

Student participants are selected based on the following criteria:
 Members of a traditionally underserved and underrepresented population;
 Entering sixth, seventh or eighth grade in the fall;
 GPA of at least a “B” in math and science and overall coursework;
 Score at the median-to-superior level in standardized math and science tests;
 Display an interest in math and science;
 Have strong recommendations from their current math and science teachers; and
 The quality of a 250-word essay.
Follow The Harris Foundation (THF), Dr. Harris and the ExxonMobil Foundation to view exciting camp updates:
Twitter
THF: @THF_News
Dr. Harris: @bernardharrisjr
Facebook
THF: facebook.com/#!/TheHarrisFoundation
Dr. Harris: facebook.com/#!/drbernardharrisjr
ExxonMobil Foundation: @XOMFoundation
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2016 Camp Sites
Lamar University (Beaumont, TX)
New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ)
North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
University of Alaska-Anchorage (Anchorage, AK)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR)
University of Houston (Houston, TX)
University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)
University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX)
Statistics on Importance of STEM
Between 2014 and 2024, STEM jobs are projected to grow 16 percent, while jobs in other sectors will only
grow 11 percent.
(Change the Equation, Economic Modeling Specialists International, 2015))
Half of all available STEM jobs do not require a four-year degree yet have an average salary of $53,000.
(Brookings Institution, “The Hidden STEM Economy”, June 2013)
The 2014 top-ten college degrees ranked by starting salaries are all STEM- related, and of those, nine are in
engineering.
(PayScale College Salary Report, 2014)
When compared with other occupations, those in STEM fields earn a median salary of $37.44 per hour
versus $18.68.
(Change the Equation, Economic Modeling Specialists International, 2015)
The top ten majors with the greatest median income potential are all STEM-related.
(PayScale College Salary Report, 2014)
US employers report that mathematical knowledge is extremely or very important in 70 percent of jobs.
(Georgetown Public Policy Institute: Recovery: Job Growth and Education Requirements Through 2020
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