Programs & Opportunities
Empowering Futures
The Vergnano Institute for Impact is committed to fostering connection and passion in the engineering and STEM fields. Our programs are designed to facilitate the outreach, recruitment, retention, and overall success of all members of the College of Engineering community.
Sophomore Summer Bridge
We prepare students finishing their first year in Engineering, Pre-Engineering, or other related STEM fields for future courses and opportunities. Current sophomores and non-degree students may also find value in this program.
From May 24th – Jun 18th, you will prepare for upcoming challenging courses, develop internship/research skills, and form a productive community amongst valuable figures and peers.
NEXT
We proudly present the “Nurturing Excellence and experience in Technology” program in collaboration with The Cigna Group to support your professional development this summer! This program is based on real-world challenges and insights from The Cigna Group employees, ensuring practical, industry-relevant learning and engagement.
Vergnano Institute for Impact Mentor-Mentee
The VII Mentor-Mentee program is an initiative designed to support newer engineering students by pairing them with experience mentors.
Work for a Program
Share your passion for engineering with the next generation of students through our programs.
Engineering Ambassadors
Engineering Ambassadors engage a diverse student population, our university and the greater community in activities that inspire them to explore a variety of creative solutions to the problems facing humanity.
We develop ourselves as passionate engineers of the future with the power to express engineering concepts through fundamentals of science and mathematics.
Engineering Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is a nonprofit humanitarian organization established to support community-driven development programs worldwide through partnerships that design and implement sustainable engineering projects, while creating transformative experiences that enrich global perspectives and create responsible leaders. EWB-USA’s vision is a world in which the communities we serve have the capacity to sustainably meet their basic human needs. Today, more than two billion people lack access to the most basic things — clean drinking water, adequate sanitation, reliable passage to local markets and more.
National Society of Black Engineers
As a whole, members here at UConn strongly feel adhering to this mission a priority, thus our list of chapter goals:
- Stimulate and develop student interest in the various engineering disciplines
- Strive to increase AND RETAIN the number of minority students studying engineering at both the undergraduate and graduate levels
- Encourage members to seek advanced degrees in engineering or related fields and to obtain professional engineering registrations
- Promote public awareness of engineering and the opportunities for Blacks AND other minorities in that profession
- Function as a representative body on issues and developments that affect the careers of Black Engineers
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) – prepares Asian heritage scientists and engineers for success in the global business world through networking events with executives from top organizations, professional development conferences, industry panels, and workshops for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as young professionals.
ColorStack
A supportive organization created to help minorities in Computer Science Students to complete their degrees and gain rewarding technical careers.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
The SHPE University of Connecticut Student Chapter was founded in 1997 and was acknowledged as a university organization on campus becoming a part of a national organization the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), which has been committed to helping our college community fill a growing need for Engineers and Scientists. Due to lack of members slowly the chapter diminished.
Society of Women Engineers
Our mission is to support the professional interests of female engineering students as they pursue a degree here at UConn. SWE awards an estimated $500,000 in scholarship money every year. Visit the National website to apply Be sure to get involved with our section! We host many Professional, Outreach, and Social events throughout each semester. Check out the National website on how to become a collegiate member!
Work for a Program
Share your passion for engineering with the next generation of students through our programs.
Society of Women Engineers
Our mission is to support the professional interests of female engineering students as they pursue a degree here at UConn. SWE awards an estimated $500,000 in scholarship money every year. Visit the National website to apply Be sure to get involved with our section! We host many Professional, Outreach, and Social events throughout each semester. Check out the National website on how to become a collegiate member!
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
The SHPE University of Connecticut Student Chapter was founded in 1997 and was acknowledged as a university organization on campus becoming a part of a national organization the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), which has been committed to helping our college community fill a growing need for Engineers and Scientists. Due to lack of members slowly the chapter diminished.
Work for a Program
Share your passion for engineering with the next generation of students through our programs.
Grant and Community Engagement Support
VII supports proposal writing by providing ideation, written content and project collaboration in the following areas:
- building and sustaining community partnerships
- sharing opportunities to connect research to student learning
- cultivating and communicating impact with and for the people we serve
Through our collaborative infrastructure, VII helps investigators identify and engage with key stakeholders, including K–12 educators and community organizations, to ensure outreach efforts are authentic, inclusive, and impactful. We provide support:
Aligning outreach strategies with community needs and educational goals to empower researchers in designing proposals that are not only scientifically rigorous but also socially responsive and educationally enriching.
Integrating VII’s existing K–12 and undergraduate programs—such as summer camps, research and learning experiences, and mentoring initiatives—into proposals to enhance broader impacts.
Connection and Monitoring
Our VII Newsletter for Faculty and Staff is called Inside Inclusion!
If you are a faculty or staff member in the College of Engineering, you will automatically receive this monthly publication from either Tracy Maheu (the amazing Administrative Program Support for COE Undergraduate Programs) or Lara Chiaverini
Here we provide resources, events, and opportunities that we believe may be helpful to your belonging, professional development, and impact while working in COE
Staff and Faculty Learning Communities
Staff and Faculty Learning Communities are collaborative spaces where educators and professionals come together to explore shared interests, enhance their practice, and foster a culture of continuous learning.
BRIDGE Program
BRIDGE is a five-week intensive summer program held at the Storrs campus. This program is designed to prepare incoming first-year students in engineering fields for the rigor of engineering curriculum at UConn, introduce leadership opportunities and careers in engineering, and to familiarize students with the University of Connecticut and the college experience as a whole. For questions, please contact engr-bridge@uconn.edu
Boat Camp
- Boat Camp is a free, week-long program where various sea related activities will be taking place. This program is exclusively for rising 5th grades and 6th graders.
- Next Session: July and August 2026
- For more information, please email engr-boatcamp@uconn.edu or call VII Director of K-12 Initiatives Jerri Robinson at 929.489.4358
Pre-Engineering Program
- Pre-Engineering (PEP) is an enrichment program for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students that includes hands-on math and science exploratory activities aimed at increasing interest in careers involving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
- Next Session: Starts October 4, 2025
- For questions, please contact jerri.robinson@uconn.edu.
Engineering Your Future
- This is an interactive conference designed for 8th grade students. The morning consists of hands-on activities facilitated by our amazing UConn Engineering students. The afternoon consist of interactive speakers and learning more about careers in engineering from our inspirational UConn Engineering Alumni, and other close friends who are engineers in CT.
- Next Event: October 24, 2025
- Sign up mechanism: Teachers/School Administrators sign up groups of students to attend.
- Eligibility: We highly encourage. CT Alliance District Schools and/or Title I schools. All schools are welcome to apply. We welcome students from all backgrounds, identities and experiences to attend, but all who attend must have an interest in STEM.
Multiplying Your Options
- This is an interactive conference designed for 8th grade students. The morning consists of hands-on activities facilitated by our amazing UConn Engineering students, a majority of them from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The afternoon consist of interactive speakers and learning more about careers in engineering from our inspirational UConn Engineering Alumni, many of them who are women or in the SWE Professional chapter, and other close friends who are engineers in CT.
- Next Event: March 27, 2026 and April 10, 2026
- Sign up mechanism: Teachers/School Administrators sign up groups of students to attend. Girl Scout Troops are also welcome to sign up groups.
- Eligibility: March 27, 2026: We prioritize CT Alliance District Schools and/or Title I schools. If spots remain, any schools are welcome to apply. We welcome students from all backgrounds, identities and experiences to attend, but all who attend must have an interest in STEM.
- April 10, 2026: All schools welcome. We welcome students from all backgrounds, identities and experiences to attend, but all who attend must have an interest in STEM.
SPARK
- If you are a current 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th grade female student, the University of Connecticut invites you to challenge yourself by incorporating your math and science skills into hands-on projects and experiments, exciting engineering concepts, and fun activities.
- SPARK is committed to the safety and equal opportunity for girls in this program by providing single-sex dormitories and single-sex athletics during the program.
- For questions, please contact engr-spark@uconn.edu.
Science Bowl
- Science Bowl is a science and mathematics competition with career demonstrations and seminars. This program is for students attending a secondary school.
- Next Session: February 28th, 2026
Explore Engineering
- The UConn Explore Engineering (E2) Program is a two week residential STEM summer camp for current high school sophomores and juniors. During this week at the Storrs Campus, participants work in small groups with engineering faculty and students to learn what various engineers do in the workplace and see engineering concepts demonstrated. In the evenings, through our Grand Challenges, students focus on and fabricate a single engineering discipline-specific device. The program ends with demonstrations of items the students created during the week. Examples have included: rudimentary EKG devices, Smart Lego vehicles, fuel cell and other energy efficient devices, wooden bridges, and environmentally friendly processes.
- Next Event: July 12 – 24, 2026. Applications open January 2026
- For questions, please contact engr-explore@uconn.edu.
Queer Science
Queer Science (QS) is a one-day conference designed to support the success of high school who students who are or are allies of LGBTQIA+ students in CT. This event is facilitated by proud LGBTQIA+ students and researchers at UConn. Anyone is welcome to attend this positive day filled with STEM activities and lab tours.
For questions, please contact stephany.santos@uconn.edu.
DRIVES
This program aims to support incoming graduate students in STEM. This program has been ended and archived, if any questions, or an idea to help revive the program, contact engr-inclusion@uconn.edu.
Sisters in STEM
Sisters In Stem (SIS) was a one-day conference designed to support the advancement of 10th grade women in STEM. This program has been ended and archived, if any questions, or an idea to help revive the program, contact engr-inclusion@uconn.edu.
The DaVinci Project
The DaVinci Project was a program of workshops where middle/high school teachers could learn to incorporate engineering in their curriculum. This program has been ended and archived, if any questions, or an idea to help revive the program, contact engr-inclusion@uconn.edu.