Hk Maker Lab
FREE SUMMER ENGINEERING DESIGN PROGRAM FOR RISING HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS & SENIORS
Hk Maker Lab is an engineering design-focused summer program in collaboration with Columbia University for high school students graduating in 2026 or 2027. Participants learn about the design process through rigorous coursework and hands-on applications. Students who successfully complete Hk Maker Lab will gain the opportunity to obtain a paid internship in research labs or health care institutions the following summer.
Prospective Students
Share the Opportunity!
If you know of any students that would be a strong candidate and would benefit from our program, please download our flyer and sample schedule to help spread the word. We believe in the power of quality education and want to give every student the opportunity to succeed through STEAM.
Application & Eligibility
Applications Will Open by Early December!
We’re excited to welcome new makers soon! Check back for updates, or sign up for our newsletter to get notified about applications and events.
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PRIORITY DEADLINE: TBA
APPLICATION DEADLINE: TBA
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Application Process
Applications for 2025 will open in early December of 2024. Applications will be reviewed in the order they were received. Qualified applicants will receive an invitation for an interview.
Applicant Eligibility
The program creates opportunities in STEAM for students from backgrounds that have been historically excluded from these fields, including students of color, women, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and first generation college students.
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Additionally, qualified applicants meet the following criteria:
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Must be an 10th or 11th grade student (graduating 2026 or 2027)
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Attend a NYCDOE public or charter high school
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Should have an interest in pursuing academic or professional opportunities in STEAM ​
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Must commit to their own learning and growth
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Can demonstrate educational and/or economic disadvantage:
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Applicant attends a NYC high school that has an Economic Need Index (ENI) of 0.8/80% or higher. Please check your school's ENI through this website: https://tools.nycenet.edu/dashboard
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Applicant family income qualifies for Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, or other similar government aid. Documentation of Government aid qualification must be provided with application materials.
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Application Checklist
Applications will not save once they have been started. The application will ask for the following:
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Academic History:
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Current High School Transcript
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Attendance Record for the 2023-2024 school year
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Essays (3):​
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In nearly every field of engineering there have been significant innovations in the last five years. What engineering accomplishment of the last five years excites you the most? Why? Tell us what inspires you to pursue engineering as a field of study. (250 words)
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Designing, creating, and building anything is a complex process that involves failure and learning from those failure. Describe a time when you made a mistake or faced failure during a project. How did this failure impact you and others? What did you learn from this experience and how has it shaped you? (250 words)
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Columbia Engineering is deeply committed to cultivating a global community of scholars and researchers to positively impact the world. In what ways have your life experiences prepared you to contribute to a diverse community tackling future challenges? (250 Words)
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Letter of Recommendation (1): Must be written by a ​science or math teacher
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Proof of financial need
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Proof of COVID Vaccination
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Students who are interested in the program or who have questions regarding the application should contact our High School Program Manager, Shannon (shannon@hypothekids.org).
What To Expect
Hk Maker Lab students will immerse themselves in the fundamental principles of engineering, get hands-on experience in design & innovation techniques, and complete projects under the mentorship of our experienced instructors. We aim to educate and inspire students at an early stage so that they get a strong start to a future STEAM career. The program provides a rich, multi-faceted learning experience while developing a network to support future academic and work endeavors.
Curricula
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Hk Maker Lab contains two phases. Students who successfully complete both phases can earn placement in paid internships at research labs or health care institutions the following summer.
Phase 1 (weeks 1-3): Students complete a course led by Columbia Engineering faculty, such as Biomedical Engineering or Innovation and Design. The course in which a student is placed depends on their preference, with priority given to students who submitted applications earliest. Below is a sample curriculum from the Biomedical Engineering course.
Sample Curriculum from Biomedical Engineering Course
Phase 2 (weeks 4-5): All Hk Maker Lab students converge to work on final interdisciplinary group projects. The projects involve creating digital media, such as an app or a web site, that addresses a global health disparity. Here are some examples of students' digital media projects:
Student Success
Hk Maker Lab alumni have continued on to pursue 4-year STEAM degrees at a variety of great schools, including:
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​Boston College
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Brown University
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Columbia University
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Emory University
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Harvard University
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Hunter College
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Princeton University
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Vanderbilt University
“We designed our own websites and created our own apps that we could use on our phones or tablets!”
JUSTIN BOUTIN | 2023
Hk Maker Lab FAQs
WHEN DOES THE Hk MAKER LAB PROGRAM RUN?
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The program runs for five weeks each summer in collaboration with Columbia University's SHAPE program. This year, the program will run July 8 - August 13, 2024. There will be a mandatory orientation during the last week of June. Any student applying to the program should be prepared to be available for the entire duration of the program and MUST notify the program manager and instructors of any unavoidable absences.
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WHO CAN APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?
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The program creates opportunities in STEAM for students from backgrounds that have been historically excluded from these fields, including students of color, women, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and first generation college students.
​
Additionally, qualified applicants meet the following criteria:
-
Must be an 10th or 11th grade student (graduating 2025 or 2026)
-
Attend a NYCDOE public or charter high school
-
Should have an interest in pursuing academic or professional opportunities in STEAM ​
-
Must commit to their own learning and growth
-
Can demonstrate educational and/or economic disadvantage:
-
Applicant attends a NYC high school that has an Economic Need Index (ENI) of 0.8/80% or higher. Please check your school's ENI through this website: https://tools.nycenet.edu/dashboard
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Applicant family income qualifies for Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, or other similar government aid. Documentation of Government aid qualification must be provided with application materials.
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WHEN DO APPLICATIONS OPEN?
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Applications for 2024 will open in November 30, 2023 and close February 2, 2024. The priority deadline is January 15th. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and qualified applicants will be invited to interview on a rolling basis.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO DEADLINES?
The priority deadline means all applications submitted on or before this date will be reviewed first. Additionally, the preferred course selection will be prioritized, meaning admitted students who apply priority will most likely be placed in their top choice. After the priority deadline, applications will be evaluated in the order they were received until the remaining spots are filled. Applications submitted after the application deadline will not be reviewed. We encourage students to apply as early as possible.
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WHO CAN GIVE A RECOMMENDATION?
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Recommendation letters must be written by a high school science or math teacher that can speak on your academic abilities.
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I SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION. NOW WHAT HAPPENS?
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Great, you'll hear from us soon! The Hk Maker Lab application has two parts since the program is conducted in collaboration with Columbia University. Now that you have submitted Part 1 of the application, you will receive instructions (via email) on how to complete Part 2 via email. You will complete Part 2 of the application through Columbia Engineering's online portal. Qualified applicants will be offered a chance to interview for a spot. After interviewing, students can expect to be notified of a decision within a few weeks. Be sure to check your email often so you don’t miss anything important.
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HOW DO I APPLY FOR A PAID INTERNSHIP?
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Students who successfully complete Hk Maker Lab will gain the opportunity to obtain a paid internship in research labs or health care institutions the following summer through our New York Bioforce program. Hk Maker Lab Alumni are highly encouraged to apply to our New York Bioforce program the following summer as a priority applicant. The submitted applications will be given first consideration and a high probability of acceptance. Students who have successfully completed the training program will then be placed into paid internships.
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WHAT IF I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
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If you have any further questions, please reach out to our High School Program Manager Jasleen at jasleen@hypothekids.org.
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I’M NOT A STUDENT, BUT I WANT TO GET INVOLVED. HOW CAN I HELP?
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There are many ways to get involved, and we appreciate your interest! We are always looking for qualified instructors, internship hosts/mentors, and guest speakers from the STEAM field. Please email us at hello@hypothekids.org if you want to help.