North High Engineering & Design Academy Earns National Recognition

A middle school project on levees sparked Isabella Saxton’s interest in engineering. That interest led her to join North High’s Engineering & Design Academy. Now, as she prepares to graduate, she says the program helped guide her next steps.

“After graduation, I’ll be going into biomedical engineering,” said Saxton. “It led me towards more of my specific choices on what I’m going to do within engineering,” said Saxton.

The National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) recently recognized North High’s Engineering & Design Academy as a Model Status Academy with Distinction. It’s the highest level of recognition from the organization.

“It shows the hard work that our teachers and faculty are putting into this program and what the students have been able to accomplish,” said Saxton. “It not only shows that North High is growing, but the hard work of all these individuals put into making it the best program it can possibly be.”

To earn the distinction, a school's career academy must meet or exceed proficiency in 10 National Standards of Practice, including teaching and learning, leadership and community involvement.

“We not only have unique class settings and environments, but we also incorporate businesses in the community,” said Jenna Hotze, North High engineering teacher. “They have professionals in the field coming in and working with them, seeing their projects and giving them praise and critiques.”

The academy includes coursework in mechanical design, robotics and automation, precision machining and Project Lead the Way engineering.

“Students are learning time management and the pressure of time management,” said Jeremy Wiemer, North High engineering and robotics teacher. “I think our classes give the students the opportunity to not just apply the skills they're learning in engineering classes but apply them to everything.”

Christopher Mendoza, a North High senior, is also a part of the academy and plans to study math and civil engineering next fall.

“The courses build upon the principles behind engineering,” said Mendoza. “No matter what engineering discipline you’re choosing, you’re going to have a design process, and you’re going to be asking, ‘What are we making this for?’”

Mendoza says his teachers encourage creativity.

“Our teachers give us the freedom of thinking about how to do it first, rather than making us do it their way,” he said.

The academy offers our students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to dive into engineering at a young age. It’s designed to inspire and prepare students for future success in college, career and life.

For Saxton, the program has had an even deeper impact.

“Three out of four of my teachers are women,” she said. “That shows me that there’s a place in engineering for women, and there’s a place for me in the future.”