CATALYST Academy

2024 Program Dates: July 14 – 20

 

Applications for 2024 CATALYST Academy will open on January 2.

 

CATALYST Academy is a one-week residential program for rising high school juniors and seniors who desire to learn about engineering in the context of an authentic college experience.

CATALYST Scholars spend one week on the Cornell campus, living in dormitories, and networking with current Cornell Engineering students, faculty, and participants from across the country. Participants attend daily classes in one area of study led by a Cornell Engineering faculty member, and work cooperatively under the supervision of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students to execute and present a research project.  Additionally, students participate in ten field sessions across our engineering majors, as well as one field session focused on the admissions process.  The Academy seeks primarily to develop literacy surrounding engineering as a major course of study in college, showcase career and graduate school pathways in engineering, and demystify the admissions process.

CATALYST Academy’s mission is to bring together a diverse group of young minds, including those from backgrounds historically excluded from and underrepresented in STEM fields. We strongly encourage students whose backgrounds and lived experiences are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields (e.g. individuals who identify as Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Indigenous, female, neurodivergent, and/or living with a disability), as well as those who may not have access to robust, STEM-related curricular resources, to apply for CATALYST.

Discover more about CATALYST Academy, and consider spending part of your summer with us!

CATALYST Supporters

We thank the following Cornell Alumni donors for their generous support of the CATALYST Academy.

Han-Yang Lo ’98
Elaine Tam ’98
Harvey Willensky ’71 and Margie Willensky
Robert L. Ryan ’68