DAPCEP Mail - August Highlights, Fall Enrollment, & 50th Anniversary Updates

Jessica Turner <jturner@dapcep.org>

[TEST] August Highlights, Fall Enrollment, & 50th Anniversary Updates Michelle L. Reaves <updates@dapcep.org> Reply-To: updates@dapcep.org To: "\"Jessica Turner\"" <jturner@dapcep.org>

Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 2:53 PM

Hello!

As summer ends, we’re looking ahead to an exciting fall at DAPCEP. The fall semester will be filled with new STEM experiences, hands-on learning, and opportunities for students to explore what’s possible for their futures.

Fall enrollment is now open! Read on to learn about upcoming programs and how to get your student involved.

We closed out the summer with plenty to celebrate. DAPCEP families came together for our Back-to-School Skating Party. Our high school students also traveled to Flint for an exclusive tour of the General Motors manufacturing facility, where they explored STEM careers and heard directly from industry professionals.

The countdown is on! DAPCEP’s 50th Anniversary Gala is next month! This once-in-ageneration celebration brings together the DAPCEP community to honor five decades of impact; and invest in the next generation of STEM leaders. The Gala kicks off a year-long celebration of DAPCEP’s legacy, the ripple effects created by generations of students, and the exciting future ahead.

DAPCEP alumni, we want you to be part of this milestone year. Read on for opportunities to reconnect, get involved, and help shape the next chapter of DAPCEP. There is so much ahead! We are excited to celebrate, grow, and continue creating opportunities for young people.

Sincerely,

Michelle L. Reaves Executive Director, DAPCEP

Family & Friends Day: Back-to-School Skating Celebration

Students, families, friends, and staff laced up their skates to celebrate the upcoming school year and close out the summer together. The Back-to-School Skating Party was a chance for the DAPCEP community to connect, laugh, and make memories before classes begin.

Follow DAPCEP on social media for photos and highlights from this special evening!

Fall Experiences Are Almost Here!

A new season of learning, discovery, and hands-on STEM is right around the corner.

Designed to spark curiosity, build real skills, and make STEM fun. Enrollment is open for students in Pre-K through 12th grade.

Explorers Classes | Pre-K–3rd Grade | September 19 – November 7 Pathfinder Classes | 4th–12th Grade | October 3 – November 7

Stay tuned for details about this fall's new classes and topics.

Please note: Fall classes take place on Saturday mornings.

Register Now!

DAPCEP Students Visit General Motors

DAPCEP high school students toured the General Motors Manufacturing Plant in Flint, Michigan, for a behind-the-scenes look at automotive engineering in action. Students saw firsthand how engineering systems come together to design and build vehicles. They gained real insight into careers in the automotive manufacturing industry.

Experiences like this are the heart of what makes DAPCEP special! We take students beyond the classroom, open doors to STEM careers, and bring learning to life. For our donors and partners, this is your investment at work.

Announcements The DAPCEP 50th Anniversary Gala Is Next Month— Tickets Now Available!

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating 50 years of creating pathways to opportunity through STEM education.

We are honored to welcome Joi Harris, President and CEO of DTE Energy and proud DAPCEP alumna, as Honorary Chair of this historic celebration.

The gala will honor five decades of student achievement, transformational partnerships, and the lasting impact of DAPCEP's mission.

Reserve your seat today and help create the ripple effects of the next 50 years.

Purchase Tickets!

Alumni, Get Connected: Join the Alumni Network!

Fifty years ago, DAPCEP began a journey that would inspire generations of students and transform communities across Michigan. The impact continues to ripple outward — through families, industries, and generations.

As we celebrate this milestone, we invite all DAPCEP alumni to reconnect through the DAPCEP Alumni Network. Whether you'd like to mentor current students, attend alumni events, share your DAPCEP story, volunteer, or simply stay in touch, there's a place for you.

Our 50th anniversary isn't just a celebration of where we've been — it's a celebration of where we're going.

Joining takes less than five minutes. Sign up today and help shape the next 50 years of DAPCEP! Sign Up Here!

Stay Connected Celebrate. Connect. Inspire. Join us as we honor 50 years of ripple effects — and help create the next 50 years of opportunity for students across Michigan.

Follow DAPCEP on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for programs, events, student success stories, and 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Alumni Spotlight: Justin Sheppeard

"Although my career aspirations eventually shifted from engineering to medicine, the foundation DAPCEP built within me remains: curiosity, perseverance, leadership, and service. Looking back, I deeply appreciate the staff and volunteers who invested countless Saturday mornings and summer days in students like me."

-Justin Sheppeard, Pre-Med Student

My educational journey has been long, challenging, and rewarding. My passion for STEM began early through DAPCEP, where I participated from preschool through middle school in programs such as Little Engineers That Could, Saturday enrichment sessions, and summer STEM programs. These experiences sparked my curiosity and showed me that learning could be creative, hands-on, and exciting. In middle school, an engineering technology program taught me practical skills, including installing electrical outlets and light fixtures.

Building a functioning breaker box for my end-of-semester project strengthened my precision and problem-solving skills. Through robotics and, later, high school courses in ComputerAided Design and Drafting, Architectural Design, and Advanced Robotics, I became certain I wanted to pursue engineering.

DAPCEP also taught me the power of mentorship. Suzanne Wasson became a godmotherlike figure to many of us, offering wisdom and encouragement before each Saturday session.

Jason Lee challenged us to lead with purpose and think like innovators, while Dr. Yvonne Posey Gilchrist taught me how to build a professional portfolio, a skill I continue to use today. Although my career aspirations eventually shifted from engineering to medicine, the foundation DAPCEP built within me remains: curiosity, perseverance, leadership, and service.

Looking back, I deeply appreciate the staff and volunteers who invested countless Saturday mornings and summer days in students like me.

I am proud to be a DAPCEP alumnus and hope to honor that legacy by mentoring future students. As I pursue medicine, I aspire to become the kind of mentor, advocate, and role model that DAPCEP has been for me.

— Justin Sheppeard, Pre-Med Student

Share Your DAPCEP Experience!

Has DAPCEP made a difference in your life, your student’s journey, or your organization’s impact?

We would love to hear your story. Whether DAPCEP helped shape your academic path, opened doors to new opportunities, strengthened your workforce, or made a meaningful difference in your life, your experience matters. Click below to let us know you’re interested in sharing your DAPCEP story—we can’t wait to celebrate your journey!

I want to tell my DAPCEP story!

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Thank you from DAPCEP! For nearly five decades, DAPCEP has created opportunities for students to explore STEM, discover their potential, and prepare for future success. This impact would not be possible without the commitment and generosity of our supporters including teachers, parents, volunteers, community leaders, and partners, who continue to invest in the success of our students.

Your support helps provide students with hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, and opportunities to connect with STEM professionals, explore career pathways, and gain access to scholarships, internships, and so much more. Together, we are helping the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders build the skills, confidence, and experiences they need to reach their goals.

As we celebrate nearly 50 years of DAPCEP, we are grateful for everyone who has been part of our journey. Thank you for believing in our students, supporting our mission, and investing in the future of the communities we serve.

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