Future Engineers Take Flight at UCO’s Ignition Summer Camp
July 15, 2026
The University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Engineering is inspiring the next generation of innovators through Ignition, a hands-on engineering camp.
Designed for students entering eighth through 11th grade, Ignition goes beyond traditional classroom learning by immersing campers in the engineering design process. During the two, one-week camps, participants design, 3D-print and assemble their own CO₂-powered rockets while exploring the real-world challenges engineers encounter every day. As they refine their designs, students balance competing priorities such as thrust versus weight, stability versus range and performance versus efficiency.
Working alongside UCO faculty and student mentors, campers gain hands-on experience with engineering concepts, advanced manufacturing technologies and critical thinking skills while discovering how science, technology and mathematics come together to solve complex problems.
"One of the most rewarding parts of this camp is watching students realize they can solve problems they never thought they could," said Cole Prather, first-year engineering coordinator at UCO.
"They arrive excited to build rockets and leave with a deeper understanding of engineering and greater confidence in their abilities.”
The camp enables the UCO School of Engineering to introduce young learners to all aspects of engineering in an engaging, hands-on environment and to encourage them to envision careers in science and technology.
The week culminates in an exciting rocket launch at Plunkett Park, where students put their designs to the test.
To learn more about UCO's School of Engineering, visit go.uco.edu/Engineering.
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About the UCO School of Engineering
The UCO School of Engineering’s bachelor’s programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), which confirms that the programs have met the standards essential to preparing students to enter critical engineering occupations in the global workforce.
The school, housed in the UCO College of Mathematics and Science, is home to four accredited engineering programs: biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, engineering physics and mechanical engineering. The fifth program, computer engineering, is in the final stages of ABET-accreditation approval.
The school offers a master’s program in engineering physics, which allows students to choose from four majors: biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and physics.
Central also offers a professional science master's degree in computational science, which combines graduate coursework in a chosen STEM major with management.
Students graduating from the UCO School of Engineering are equipped to enter a vast array of industries. They will develop a solid educational foundation to lead the way in innovation and emerging technologies.
Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Engineering is inspiring the next generation of innovators through Ignition, a hands-on engineering camp. Designed for students entering eighth through 11th grade, Ignition goes beyond traditional classroom learning by immersing campers in the engineering design process. The week culminates in an exciting rocket launch at Plunkett Park, pictured, where students put their designs to the test.
