8 Summer STEM Programs for High School Students in Virginia
- Stephen Turban
- May 31, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 31
Participating in a summer STEM program as a high school student can be a valuable experience, offering networking opportunities, research experience, and a boost to your college applications!
STEM programs give you early exposure to a wide array of technological fields, from software development to cybersecurity, providing a competitive edge in college applications and future job markets. Admissions officers value applicants who go the extra mile to engage in a subject outside of the classroom and work towards gaining advanced skills during the summer.
To help you find the right opportunity, we have curated a list of 8 summer STEM programs for high school students in Virginia. Some of the programs mentioned below are completely free!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest.You can find examples of previous projects here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
This summer camp spans two weeks and takes place at Virginia Tech. It offers a residential setting where attendees engage in practical engineering and technology training. Through interactive design projects and lab work, you will explore different engineering fields, acquiring valuable skills while tackling real-world problems. You will also receive aid with college applications, simplifying the process and improving your chances of admission to prestigious engineering programs. Moreover, you will get to explore campus life and the engineering curriculum at Virginia Tech through organized visits.
Location: Virginia Tech
Cost: None
Application Deadline: Rolling Basis
Program Dates: Rising Seniors: Sunday, June 16th to Saturday, June 29th | Rising Sophomores and Juniors, June 23rd to Saturday, June 29th.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10, 11, or 12 in the fall who are first-generation college students.
The Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) program allows high schoolers to explore NASA-related research. Run by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, NASA Langley Research Center, and partners, it introduces students to aerospace, engineering, and technology. During the academic year, you will tackle real-world aerospace challenges through a rigorous online curriculum. Exceptional performers may attend a week-long Summer Academy at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA.
Location: Online course from December to April, followed by an in-person summer residency at NASA Langley Research Center
Cost: None
Application Deadline: October 24
Program Dates: Session 1: June 22 - 28 | Session 2: July 13 - 19 | Session 3: July 27 - August 2
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors who are Virginia residents, United States citizens, and have a minimum GPA of 2.7
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium enables students interested in the connection between climate change and technology to engage with NASA's latest research. This program combines online learning with a summer residency, offering a comprehensive education in Earth System Science. The highlight is the summer residency at NASA's Langley Research Center, which includes a team project designing a satellite launch mission to explore Earth's systems. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Online course from December to April, followed by a summer residency at NASA Langley Research Center
Cost: None
Application Deadline: October 26
Program Dates: Session 1: July 6 - 12 | Session 2: July 20 - 26
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors who are Virginia residents, United States citizens, and have a minimum GPA of 2.7
Virginia Tech's Black College Institute offers a four-day academic program for underrepresented high school students. You will engage in workshops and activities across disciplines like Comp Modeling & Data Analytics, Science Technology Studies, and Industrial and Systems Engineering. The program prioritizes critical thinking through project-based learning and guides you through the college application process. It encourages you to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios for community impact.
Location: Virginia Tech
Cost: None
Application Deadline: March 22
Program Dates: Session 1 for Seniors: June 16 - 19 | Session 2 for Seniors: June 23 - 26 | Session for Juniors: June 30 - July 3
Eligibility: Preference is given to underrepresented and/or first-generation students who are rising juniors or seniors
This program will pair you with a mentor from George Mason University to work on a specific project. A wide range of research areas are available, including Earth Science, Molecular Medicine, Cyber Security, Finance, Astronomy, Math, Forensic Science, and more. The format of the program differs with each project. Through ASSIP, you will use sophisticated technology and equipment, develop scientific writing, explore STEM careers, and exercise creativity. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Remote, in-person, and hybrid options available; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost: $25 application fee, no stipend. Application fees can be waived depending on need.
Application Deadline: February 11th
Program Dates: June 18th-Aug. 9th
Eligibility: Students must be over the age of 15 for remote and computer lab in-person internships and over the age of 16 for “wet-lab” in-person internships
In this two-week program, you have the option to pursue either the Computer Science/Information Technology track or the Engineering track. Opting for the former will enable you to engage with hardware tasks, such as assembling a desktop computer and installing an operating system. You'll then explore topics like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence utilizing this hardware. Alternatively, the Engineering track offers insights into the data center and semiconductor manufacturing industries. You may visit industry partners and even attain your OSHA 10 certificate as part of the program.
Location: Northern Virginia Community College
Cost: None.
Application Deadline: May 10th
Program Dates: July - August
Eligibility: Graduating seniors and current juniors can apply
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: Virginia Tech logo