STARS Computing Corps at IUPUI Create a College Visit to Remember for Local High School Students

School of Informatics faculty, staff and students collaborated to provide an engaging, hands-on learning experience for freshmen and sophomores from Indianapolis’ Providence Cristo Rey High School on October 2. The event served as an introduction for the high school students to the study of informatics and computing, as well as the school’s undergraduate programs and scholarship opportunities in Media Arts and Science, Informatics and Health Information Administration.

Students were treated to IUPUI’s Advanced Visualization Lab, where professor Dr. Davide Bolchini and doctoral student Debaleena Chattopadhyay presented their research in the field of Human-Computer Interaction. Students were able to interact with the lab’s high resolution display wall, demonstrating motion tracking and gesture recognition, and a tilting touch table display.  

Current STARS Leadership Corps students were integrally involved in planning an enriching experience for the high school students. Activities included a student-run GameMaker video game workshop and tours of both the IUPUI campus and UITS facilities. All Providence Cristo Rey High School students walked away from the visit with their own video game to play with family and friends. School of Informatics students involved included STARS members Sarah Parker, Eric Padget, Brittany Conway, Matt Misner and Brittney Parker.

This interaction has established a good working relationship between the high school and the School of Informatics at IUPUI. STARS students promoted NCWIT’s Aspirations in Computing Awards to this group and for the first time, six girls from the high school applied to the program, one being a state runner-up.

Located minutes from downtown Indianapolis, Providence Cristo Rey is a private, college-preparatory high school for students from families with limited financial means. The high school combines rigorous classroom instruction with real-life work and study experiences for students. Many Providence Cristo Rey students take dual credit classes at IUPUI and Indiana University Health is one of the high school’s corporate work study partners.