High schoolers visit local mine as part of college summer camps

The college’s 2025 Arizona Summer Engineering Academy gave about 130 middle schoolers and 300 ninth- to 12th -graders and recent high school graduates a real-life understanding of engineering fields in high demand, such as mining operations, hypersonic vehicles and semiconductor manufacturing.

Now in its 20th year, SEA’s expanded hands-on programs for high school students include five camps spanning four days and two weeklong residential camps. Additionally, Cummings Aerospace sponsored a five-day camp that immersed middle schoolers in 3D-design and printing, coding and robotics.

The camp included a July 7 trip to the nearby ASARCO Mission Mine Complex, where students toured facilities against the backdrop of a 1,200-foot-deep open pit spanning 2.5 by 1.5 miles on 20,000 acres. ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company) has been producing copper in Arizona for more than a decade.

“The mine was very interesting to see in person, and learning about the wide range of jobs within mining was a big takeaway for me,” said Josh Rabenou, a junior at University High School in Tucson who was among 50 SEA scholarship recipients.

Tour guide Michael Landin guided students through mining operations in full swing – giant drills, shovels and haul trucks. “We need a hundred people right now at this facility,” he said. “You get a job here, you have a career for the rest of your life because the mining industry isn’t going anywhere.”

Other camp focus areas included transportation and infrastructure; energy and water; and light, optics and electronics.