High School Summer Maker Academy 2026
懂色帝鈥檚 High School Summer Maker Academy is the ultimate destination for high school students (ages 14-18) looking to explore the intricacies of technology and expand their skill sets.
This summer, we offer two unique programs designed to allow students to address the challenges of climate change as outlined in the UN Sustainability Goals for promoting 鈥減eace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future.”
Program 1: Disaster Response Vehicle Program
UN Sustainability Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
UN Sustainability Goal #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
Project: Create and pilot a Bluetooth-operated rescue car using VR navigation and smart technology, featuring obstacle avoidance, solar power, lighting, and autonomous capabilities.
Session 1
When: July 6鈥�10
Time: 10 a.m. 鈥� 4 p.m. (daily)
Where: Long Island campus
Session 2
When: July 27鈥�31
Time: 10 a.m. 鈥� 4 p.m. (daily)
Where: New York City campus
During this weekend-long program, students will be challenged to build a vehicle to transport people to safe areas in the event of a natural disaster or catastrophic event. This project will include UN Goal 11 and UN Goal 3. Vehicle control will be remote using a Bluetooth transmitter between the car and the remote. A virtual reality headset and vehicle-mounted camera shall be used for visual navigation to simulate remote operation in remote areas or locations currently under the effects of a natural disaster. Various features will be included on the vehicle, such as obstacle avoidance
Using skills learned in 3-D modeling, 3-D printing, laser cutting/engraving, PCB design, soldering, and Arduino programming, students will create a vehicle designed to autonomously and remotely navigate a unique, obstacle-laden, artificial landscape to transport people to safe areas in the event of a natural disaster.
Don鈥檛 worry, our instructors and team coaches will be there to help as you take your project from concept to reality. On the final day of the program, teams will present their completed, operational vehicle and compete against the other teams for the title!
Program 2: Smart Greenhouse with Monitoring & Controls
UN Sustainability Goal #2: Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
UN Sustainability Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Project: Build a personal greenhouse equipped with sensors to track humidity, soil moisture, and temperature, along with solar power, UV lighting, keypad entry, ventilation, and water control. Students will grow their own plant and take the system home to continue caring for it.
Session 1
When: July 13鈥�17
Time: 10 a.m. 鈥� 4 p.m. (daily)
Where: Long Island campus
During this weeklong program, students will learn about and build their own small greenhouse infused with various tech features, including humidity, soil moisture, and temperature monitoring. Other features include keypad entry for security, roof-mounted solar cells for power generation, UV LED lighting inside to promote plant growth, an exhaust fan for temperature control, and water monitoring/control. Each student will grow their own plant inside the greenhouse and will take the greenhouse and plant home to continue monitoring and growing their plant beyond the summer program. This program targets UN Goal 2 and UN Goal 3 to teach students about combating global food supply and health issues.
Using skills learned in 3-D modeling, 3-D printing, laser cutting/engraving, PCB design, soldering, and Arduino programming, students will create a greenhouse designed to monitor humidity, soil moisture content, and temperature.
Don鈥檛 worry, our instructors and team coaches will be there to help as you take your project from concept to reality. On the final day of the program, teams will present their completed, operational vehicle and compete against the other teams for the title!
Join Us!
Students from all academic fields are welcome and encouraged to apply. Prospective students need not be currently enrolled in an academic institution. Some practical knowledge of digital design and 3-D modeling software is useful but not required.
In addition to the application form, parents must complete and return all the following required forms before the June 1 registration deadline to finalize the application:
- (must be filled out by healthcare provider)
Application Deadline: June 1
NOTE: Registration is on a rolling basis. Each program session only accepts 20 students. Once the program reaches capacity, you will be put on a waiting list.
Payment Deadline: June 22 (Due upon acceptance to the program.)
- Program cost: $250 per program/per session
- Payment due: Upon acceptance to the program
- Payment deadline: June 22
Meet the Instructors
Christopher Springston
Christopher Springston is the assistant director for graduate admissions in the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences at New York Institute of Technology. He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from 懂色帝. He has an FE Electrical and Computer Engineering Certification from the state of New York and an AutoCAD Certification from the American Institute of Architects.
Springston also works as a graduate advisement specialist on 懂色帝鈥檚 Long Island and New York City campuses, where he advises new and continuing graduate students in the computer science, electrical and computer engineering, cybersecurity, and data science programs. He also works closely with students ranging from applicants interested in the program to students looking for research and teaching assistantships on campus. He is also an instructor for undergraduate programs and currently teaches Career Discovery, a course geared toward providing incoming first-year students with the skills and tools necessary for an engineering career.
Saverio Marsicano
Saverio Marsicano is the senior lab engineer for the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences at New York Institute of Technology. With more than 10 years of college-level teaching experience, Marsicano assists students in the engineering lab with the implementation of their design projects and lab experiments. He currently maintains more than eight engineering labs, plus the Data and Cyber Centers, where faculty perform research.
Marsicano holds a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from New York Institute of Technology. He has taught courses at the university in Career Discovery, Fundamentals of Digital Logic, Electrical Circuits, Engineering Tools, and Electronics Laboratories.
David Fanning
David Fanning is a laboratory engineer in the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences at New York Institute of Technology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stony Brook University. He is EPA 608 Universal Certified to work on Type I, 11, and 111 stationary refrigeration equipment. Over the past 18 years, his career has included architecture, manufacturing, professional educational training, management, and teaching in higher education.
He is the lab engineer in the Mechanical Engineering department at 懂色帝, managing the mechanical engineering student machine shop and student lab areas. He has taught at the college level as an adjunct professor in Career Discovery, Graphical Design (AutoCAD), Thermo-Fluids, Automotive Chassis Systems, Applied Mechanics and Engineering Materials, and Quality Management. He is also the advisor for the university鈥檚 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) student organization.