Summer Programs
FIRST® Tech Robotics Workshop
Dates: July 8-12, 2024
Move-In: July 7, 2024
Grades: Rising 10th-12th grades
Cost: Residential $720/Commuter $400 What’s included in the cost?
Registration Due: June 1, 2024
Sponsoring Department(s): UM Office of Pre-College, UM Center for Mathematics and Science Education, UM School of Engineering
FIRST® Tech Challenge students learn to think like engineers. Teams build robots from a reusable kit of parts, develop strategies, document their progress, and compete. Students will gain experience designing, programming, and applying math and science concepts. This workshop is a great foundation for students interested in building their robotics skills for academic year competitions.
All in-person programs will comply with University of Mississippi COVID-19 protocols.
Students enrolled in the 7th- 12th grades and attending public school in Lee, Pontotoc, or Union counties are eligible to apply for a CREATE scholarship. For more information and to apply, please review the description on our scholarship page.
Mannie Lowe
Mannie Lowe is currently the FIRST® Program Manager for the Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the University of Mississippi. He coordinates the FIRST® Tech Challenge program for Mississippi. Mannie has helped grow this program in Mississippi from 4 teams to over 60 since 2012. Mannie is a firm believer in the mission of FIRST® and how it can impact students. He has coached and mentored several FIRST® Tech Challenge, FIRST® Robotics Competition, and FIRST® LEGO League teams to award-winning seasons, as well as serving as a resource to many other coaches and mentors throughout the country. In 2016, Mannie was honored as the FIRST®Tech Challenge International Volunteer of the Year.
Prior to moving to Mississippi, Mannie was a software engineer and project manager for several companies in the Atlanta, GA area. Mannie also taught computer science and robotics at Atlanta’s Pace Academy, a private K-12 school. Mannie is co-author of Winning LEGO MINDSTORMS Programming with James Trobaugh and hopes to author a book on the FIRST® Tech Challenge.
Residential students will live in a residence hall on campus, supervised by live-in counselors. All counselors are undergraduate students trained in the supervision of minors and background-checked. Evening recreational activities may include use of the campus recreational center, board games, and trips to locations on campus or in town.
Regular Registration Deadline:
- June Programs = May 1st
- July Programs = June 1st
Late Registration Deadline:
An additional $40 late registration fee will be charged per week registered.
- June Programs = May 20th
- July Programs = June 20th
Registration Instructions
Program registration is a 3-step process that should be completed in order:
- Step 1: Pay and secure your spot.
- Step 2: Create an account.
- Step 3: Complete registration and checklist items.
Please only complete one (1) student registration per transaction. If registering multiple students, complete one student's registration, then start the process over for the next student. This system does not allow entry of multiple students' information within the same registration.
Step 1. Pay and secure your spot
Pay using the payment portal linked above to secure your student's spot.
Step 2: Create an account
Please use a personal email account, not a school affiliated email address, as most servers block external emails.
Within 3 business days, you will receive an email from umprecollege@myschoolapp.com with steps to create your Admissions Portal through our Blackbaud MySchoolApp system.
Step 3. Complete your registration and checklist items before the deadline.
Once in the Admissions Portal, you will instantly see your program’s registration checklist that our admissions team has assigned you. Please complete the registration checklist before the program deadline and within 14 days of creating an account.
Registration includes standard questions (e.g., contact information, academic history, etc.) as well as instructions for submitting rules and guidelines agreements and medical information and forms.
Before the program begins:
Prior to the start of summer, you will receive a detailed pre-summer logistics email along with a pre-arrival checklist shown on your MySchoolApp account.
Incomplete or Late Registrations
After you have paid and secured a seat in the program, make sure to finish the remaining steps within two (2) weeks. If your registration is incomplete or an application is inactive for three (3) weeks, a $20 late fee will incur, unless an extension is requested.
Refund Policy
You must cancel your registration at least two weeks before the chosen session to receive an 80% refund. Refunds are not available to cancellations made less than two weeks prior to the chosen session. Full refunds will be issued if the camp is cancelled due to low enrollment.