From June to July, the Computer Science Department hosted free summer camps for rising 6th-12th graders, focused on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. These camps were carefully designed to help students not only learn but also have fun through hands-on activities. Nearly 200 students from different regions in El Paso attended the sessions, eager to explore tomorrow's technology.

Each session was led by instructors, UTEP CS students, selected for their expertise and passion for teaching the new generation of professionals. In total, there were four sessions: two focused on cybersecurity, and the other two on artificial intelligence. By the end of each session, students participated in internal competitions to test their knowledge and teamwork skills. All students received recognition upon the completion of the camp, and the competition winners received picks and star 3D trophies.

During the AI sessions (one week long), students learned the fundamentals of Python programing and how to develop basic AI algorithms. They worked on projects such as image classifiers and recommendation systems.

The cybersecurity sessions lasted two weeks and followed the curriculum provided by the Air Force Association’s (AFA) CyberPatriot Program – a national program that works to inspire K-12 students to pursue careers in cybersecurity or other STEM disciplines. In the first week of each session, students learned beginner-level cybersecurity skills, while the second week focused on more advanced concepts.

“I really liked the fact that this camp was more hands on with fun activities and visual ways to learn all of the concepts. I would say this camp did a great job at understanding our needs for learning.” – Student in AI Camp.

By the Numbers:

• Campers: 191 participants.
• Instructors: 14 knowledgeable UTEP CS students.
• Camps: 4 successful camp sessions.

We thank everyone who participated in the camps. A big thank you to the ager students who came prepared to learn, to their guardians for supporting them, to the amazing teams of instructors, and to everyone who helped make this possible.

With such overwhelming enthusiasm and success, UTEP’s CS Department is excited to continue building pathways for young learners in tech.