Bridging the gap

As Norman Sorio wandered across the nearly empty campus in summer 2025, he wondered how he 

could bridge the gap between his high school years and new college experiences that would come as a first-year premedicine major. 

In summer 2026, as he again wandered a nearly empty campus, Sorio knew the answer — and was preparing to share it with the incoming class of Flyers as a student leader for the STEM Summer Bridge Program.  

20 years of preparing students for STEM success

In June 2026, the residential program welcomed its 20th cohort of STEM majors to help them transition confidently from high school to college. Open to all, this program offers a week of community building, academic enrichment and professional development. Statistically, only 16% of U.S. high school graduates are prepared for college-level coursework in STEM majors, according to the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Sorio facilitated conversations, offered insight to his own STEM experience and provided support, hoping students will find the same success he did. 

“I definitely wanted to help shape what UD feels like coming in,” Sorio said. “Having the incoming students just know that there are resources available to them and giving them advice on how to succeed and what to expect coming into college.”

As an attendee, Sorio’s experience was built on relationships. He stayed connected through the academic year with friends from STEM Summer Bridge and watched them grow as scholars and individuals. 

“You’re able to find your people there,” Sorio said. “It’s like a jumpstart to connecting with people in your grade.”

“You’re able to find your people there. It’s like a jumpstart to connecting with people in your grade.”

A glimpse at the next four years

The program is packed with lab tours, mock classes and opportunities to meet STEM faculty and professionals. Students also start to think about the common good and complete a group project about how STEM can benefit the Dayton community. It’s a glimpse of their next four years at UD — the successes and the support. 

Gerica Brown ’08, assistant dean for inclusive excellence strategic initiatives and director of the Diversity in Engineering Center, said the program promotes a sense of belonging as STEM students at UD; facilitates meaningful connections among students, faculty and staff; and helps students develop and sustain the self-efficacy they need to thrive as STEM majors.

Sophomore Kevin Davis, a mechanical engineering major, remembered how influential the program was for him. Upon arrival, he was a quiet introvert, but after a few days he found the program boosted his comfort on campus and helped him feel more at ease navigating college life.

“Most of the people that I met at STEM camp, I still talk to today,” Davis said. “It also gave me a peek into how college classes were going to be and how [to] network.”

Nana Osei-Obeng, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said his favorite moment serving as a student leader this summer was seeing the change in the students — from keeping to themselves on the first day to knowing each other by name and connecting quickly. 

“We’d stay up late [with them] … and they’d ask us questions … you wouldn’t ask a teacher or something, like, college questions,” Osei-Obeng said. “It was just nice being able to be in the position where I have enough knowledge that I can pass that on to someone else.”

Successful thanks to support

Since it formed in 2007, the STEM Summer Bridge Program has helped more than 700 students build community, develop as leaders, and succeed academically and professionally. Donors to the 2026 Flyer Funder online campaign contributed more than $10,000 to the program. 

Lana Hall, a mechanical engineering senior with an aerospace minor, was the head leader for the program this summer. She recognized the importance of the camp and the impact it makes on students entering the STEM field.

“It’s a really good opportunity for those … who are nervous,” she said. “Going into this camp, it’s really easy to get outside of your bubble, make those connections.” 

The most important of those connections is with upperclass students who can offer advice, be a reference and share their experiences.

“At its core, the STEM Summer Bridge Program is about our students,” Brown said. “Watching students arrive uncertain about their decision to attend UD and leave a few days later with friendships, confidence and a genuine sense of belonging is something that never gets old.”

For Sorio and the other 700 STEM students, they found that the intimidating bridge between high school and the first year of college becomes a lot less daunting when there’s a UD team walking alongside you.