Blinn STEM Camp ignites curiosity through hands-on learning

Campers explore solar power, robotics, and 3D printing projects

June 27, 2025

Grider Cienega’s face lit up when he placed his solar-powered car under a floodlight and its wheels began spinning.

Cienega’s project was one of several hands-on activities completed by seventh- and eighth-graders during the Blinn College District’s first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Camp held Wednesday and Thursday on the Brenham Campus.

Designed to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the free two-day camp also featured 3D printing and programming a small robot called a DoBot to perform tasks.

“The students were very excited,” said Jennifar Aktar, Engineering Technology Program Coordinator. “We started with fundamentals and STEM-themed paper projects. The first day focused on 3D printing, and the students designed their own models and got to see them come to life.”

Katlyn Phillips, a Blinn engineering student who helped with the camp, said she was impressed with the knowledge the campers already had.

“They put together some amazing projects,” Phillips said. “Some of them come up with things I could never create. We’re always looking to inspire new engineers.”

Chloe Bowman, from Brenham, said the camp was rewarding.

“I’m really enjoying it,” Bowman said. “I’m learning a few things.”

Blinn’s Engineering Program offers an Associate of Science in Engineering with general, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering tracks. Blinn also offers two co-enrollment partnerships with the Texas A&M College of Engineering – the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn-Brenham and Texas A&M Engineering at Blinn.

Blinn also offers a co-admission partnership with the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Engineering and transfer partnerships with Tarleton State University and Texas A&M University-Texarkana through the RELLIS Academic Alliance.

For more information about Blinn’s Engineering Program, visit www.blinn.edu/engineering.