Pathways

The Pathways program (Pathways to engineering) is an offshoot of STEP. Originally offered exclusively to East Aurora High School students, it provides a unique opportunity for a paid internship-style experience on site at Packer Engineering Inc. in Naperville. It has now been opened up to students from the other grant schools – Naperville North and Central and West Aurora HS – in an effort to involve more students. Students in the Pathways program have the opportunity to learn from Packer engineers and technicians in the context of designing, building, and testing projects relating to science and engineering. The emphasis is on working in teams in a real workplace environment, while reinforcing science, math, and communications skills. Pathways meets after school for 2 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year. Interns also are introduced to engineering fields. Several interns have made a successful transition from Pathways to STEP and then hopefully to engineering!

Students pictured from East Aurora HS – the first Pathways group