The camps, GLoW (Girls Learning to Weld), July 11-14, and GADgET (Girls Adventuring in Design, Engineering & Technology), July 18-21, gave both boys and girls hands-on building projects using technology and other materials. Youth from all over the Chicagoland area were invited to attend the camps. Antigone Sharris, Triton’s chairperson of Integrated Technology, instructed GLoW, and Andrea Blaylock, Triton’s Integrated Technology professor, taught GADgET.  Both GLoW and GADgET camp participants were able to hear women engineer leaders at Nicor Gas discuss their careers.  On July 21, civil engineer Darlene Rucker, supervisor of Construction Operations, explained how she became interested in the field of engineering.  

“I used to make design structures out of toothpicks,” she said. “I was always interested in engineering and building.” Welding field trainer Tracy Sites gave students a real look at a welding truck. The students were able to see her helmet and how she stops the flow of gas when there’s a leak.  Afterwards, GADgET participants presented their projects with a PowerPoint presentation. Belle Murray of Norridge created a night-light for her sister called Zoie’s Night-Light. To make the light, Murray used LED and fairy lights, glue and paint.  “My sister has been begging my dad to put a light next to her bed, so I decided to just make one for her,” she said.  Raahi Mehta, a soon-to-be senior at Conant High School, enjoys attending engineering camps and the field really interests her.  “I’m going to be pursuing a career in engineering,” she said. “I just haven’t decided what kind of engineer I want to be!”  For more information and tuition details, please email antigonesharris@triton.edu or call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3130.