Hamon Foundation Backs SMU Summer Engineering Camps With $2 Million Gift

Hamon Charitable Foundation has committed $2 million to Southern Methodist University to expand summer engineering camps for underrepresented kids and to establish college scholarships for select attendees.The SMU Lyle School of Engineering Hamon Summer Engineering Camps will recruit middle and high school students from KIPP DFW charter schools, Young Women's Preparatory Network and Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy within Dallas Independent School District. Teachers from those schools may also participate.The new Jake L. Hamon Scholars Program will offer scholarships to campers who are subsequently accepted to SMU's engineering program. The funding also enables students in SMU's Caruth Institute for Engineering Education to mentor campers during the school year.The gift will support programming for 640 students and 52 teachers over five years. Last year, SMU's engineering camp served 100 underrepresented students via a Texas Workforce Commission Grant, which is not guaranteed annually, noted spokesman Kent Best.SMU credits Hamon directors Kelly and Jack Roach and board member Tom Souers for the gift.  Continue reading...