Standout Spartans: Parish Freeman '25, Justin Fratkin '25, and Jack Herron '24

Congratulations to the following outstanding Spartans for accepting their nominations to participate in Engineering Leadership programs this summer: Parish Freeman ’25 will be attending the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley; Justin Fratkin ’25 will attend the National Youth Leadership Forum: Engineering at Georgia Tech; and Jack Herron ’24 will be attending the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC): Engineering at Yale University. 

 
Both programs were established to provide high school students with firsthand experiences in engineering so that they are better equipped to make informed decisions on choosing the right university, college major, and career specialty. Students experience the multi-facets of engineering, from civil to mechanical to electrical to chemical, and gain a firm understanding of how to successfully implement all phases of the design thinking process. The core curricular component of the NYLF program is the Capstone Impact Challenge, which provides students with the opportunity to work toward solving a Sustainable Development Goal set forth by the United Nations. The main component of the NSLC is a leadership curriculum designed to help students build concrete leadership skills through interactive lectures and small-group workshops. Students in this program will design, build, and operate an underwater drone as well as a wind turbine that produces electricity. 

Students in both programs will experience life on the campus of a top-ranked engineering school where they will hear from academic faculty and professional leaders in various engineering disciplines. They will also engage in cultural site visits and explore a variety of engineering facilities, allowing for full immersion into the field of engineering.  

“I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Parish and Justin during my Applied Technology class this year, and Jack through his involvement with the Coding and Robotics clubs and the Game Jam competition,” said Upper School Technology Facilitator Erin Springfield. “They are remarkable students each with their own unique and emerging leadership skills and a shared enthusiasm for designing, programming, building (and re-building)! My hope is that they will not only gain a glimpse into the continually evolving world of engineering but perhaps also into their own futures!”