On Thursday, March 12, nearly 60 high school students from Wicomico, Dorchester, and Caroline counties visited University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) for an annual hands-on learning experience, held in partnership with the Department of Engineering at UMES. Now in its seventh year, this immersive event gives students a firsthand look at engineering pathways and college life on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Originally scheduled to occur during Engineers Week (Feb. 23-28), the program was postponed due to inclement weather. Despite the delay, student enthusiasm was stronger than ever. Throughout the day, students toured multiple engineering labs across campus including Aerospace Engineering, Robotics & Automation, Antenna & Communication Systems, Biomedical Engineering, and Instrumentation and Circuitry. Faculty and student engineers led demonstrations showcasing how classroom knowledge turns into real world innovation.
One college student presenter was Nicholas Oeschler, an MBRT Next Generation Scholars alum. Now in his fourth year at UMES, Nick led one of the engineering demonstrations using drone technology, offering students an inspiring example of commitment, curiosity, and how programs like Next Generation Scholars open pathways to exciting careers.
“Being able to show students what’s possible with drone technology in agriculture was a full circle moment for me. I actually visited UMES on a Next Generation Scholars program field trip in high school myself and knew their aviation program was right for me because of that experience. MBRT’s Next Generation Scholars program opened so many doors in my academic journey and I’m thankful to be a part of it. I hope my demonstration was able to do the same for the next generation of students.”
Nick is currently studying Aviation Science with a concentration in Aviation Management and is set to graduate this spring. He plans to continue his studies in the Food and Agriculture Science master’s program, also at UMES this fall.
Students also enjoyed “Soul‑Food Thursday” in the campus dining hall, offering an authentic taste of UMES culture that provided an extra glimpse into student life beyond the classroom.
This longstanding collaboration is led by Tashe Williams, MBRT Next Generation Scholars Program Manager – Wicomico, whose partnership with UMES continues to open doors for students across the Eastern Shore.
