Building Tomorrow's STEM Leaders

A hands-on approach to engineering and STEM readiness at MOT Charter

BY AMANDA SCHIMMEL

AS TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRIES continue to evolve, the demand for skilled engineers and STEM professionals is higher than ever before. Despite this, there remains a notable disconnect between the skills students gain in the classroom and the practical demands of the workforce. The Career and College Ready Capstone Program at MOT Charter High School addresses this gap by offering students hands-on experience and industry-focused knowledge essential for success in higher education and beyond.

The objective of the program is simple: to prepare students by engaging them in team-based projects that reflect real-world engineering and STEM challenges. These projects, directly tied to the students’ intended college majors and career interests, require them to apply prior engineering and STEM knowledge while developing essential career-ready skills.

“These skills, including communication, critical thinking, project management, professionalism, and teamwork, are vital for success in the continuously changing workforce,” explains Roger Seedorf, engineering instructor and capstone program advisor at MOT Charter High School.

The program is an integral part of the engineering curriculum at MOT Charter High School, available to all career and technical education (CTE) students. Selecting from over 50 projects across various engineering and STEM disciplines, there is something to captivate every interest. The projects are structured within a simulated real-world company hierarchy, where students assume leadership roles such as vice president, chief technology officer, operations director, program manager, and project manager.

Seedorf adds, “Each student plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations, just like in a professional company, and this hands-on approach develops not only technical abilities but also the leadership and collaborative skills that employers value.”

Two capstone options are offered: a shorter engineering III capstone and an engineering IV yearlong capstone. Both capstone projects culminate in a 1 1/2-hour team and individual presentation before an expert panel, which includes administrators, instructors, mentors, industry professionals, and college professors. At this final presentation, each team provides a set of deliverables that showcase the project’s success; these can include a team portfolio, individual portfolios, a marketing video, a technical paper, résumés, engineering notebooks, and more.

In addition to technical skills achieved through industry-recognized certificates, the program also teaches soft skills essential for career success. Students are required to complete a series of mini-courses covering topics such as team dynamics, conflict management, communication, project management, and ethics. They must also pass a proficiency assessment in professionalism, and those who excel in these areas are awarded a Mastery in Professionalism certification that was created in conjunction with industry partners.

“Over 90% of our students earn top grades, and nearly half are entering STEM careers as underrepresented groups, breaking barriers in STEM fields,” Seedorf remarks. The success of the program is not just reflected in the high grades and 100% college placements of its students but also in its strong track record in state and national STEM competitions. Over the last five years, teams from the program have earned top honors in STEM- and engineering-related competitions, including national first- and second-place finishes, as well as multiple top-10 placements.

Additionally, many industry professionals recognize the program as an excellent tool for developing the in-demand skills employers seek. As Zach Zipf, a MOT Charter High School alumnus, Purdue engineering graduate, and materials engineer at Steel Dynamics Inc., puts it: “The capstone program was without question a huge factor in my college and career readiness success.”

The success of the Career and College Ready Capstone Program can also be attributed to its robust network of partners, including NASA, DelDOT, the University of Delaware, MIT, and numerous other higher education and industry professionals. These collaborations provide students with valuable access to mentors, guest speakers, industry-standard software, and real-world projects that enrich their learning experience.

“Our industry and college partnerships provide our capstone students a tremendous insight into the changing world of work and the academic rigor necessary to succeed in challenging STEM majors,” adds Shana Noll, principal of MOT Charter High School.

As a 2025 Superstar in Education and Training, MOT Charter High School exemplifies how education can evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing workforce and better prepare students for rigorous college STEM majors. By equipping students with the technical expertise, leadership skills, and industry-specific knowledge they need to succeed, the program is helping to shape the engineers and STEM professionals of tomorrow—today.