Jessica Turner <jturner@dapcep.org>
September Highlights, 50th Anniversary Gala & Fall Experiences 1 message Michelle L. Reaves <updates@dapcep.org> Reply-To: updates@dapcep.org To: "\"Jessica Turner\"" <jturner@dapcep.org>
Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Happy Fall from DAPCEP! Fifty years of STEM education. Thousands of opportunities. Generations of students whose curiosity, confidence, and futures have been shaped by DAPCEP. This month, we are celebrating five decades of impact in the communities we serve. We kicked off this milestone anniversary year with DAPCEP’s 50th Anniversary Gala at DTE Energy, bringing together students, alumni, educators, partners, supporters, and community leaders to celebrate our legacy and look ahead to what’s next. Even as we celebrate our history, we continue creating new opportunities for the next generation. Our Fall STEM Experiences are officially underway, giving students across Michigan opportunities to explore emerging technologies and exciting areas of STEM. This semester includes new experiences such as Future Engineers: Robot Challenge at historic Michigan Central and Quantum Vision: How We See the Unseen, presented in partnership with the University of Michigan. We also welcomed educators to our annual DAPCEP Teacher Training, equipping them with tools and strategies to create engaging and supportive out-of-school STEM learning experiences. There’s much more happening at DAPCEP this fall! Keep reading for program highlights, announcements, and ways to get involved as we celebrate 50 years of impact and continue building what’s next. Sincerely,
Michelle L. Reaves Executive Director, DAPCEP
Celebrating 50 Years of Impact at DAPCEP’s Anniversary Gala
This month, DAPCEP officially launched our year-long celebration of 50 years of creating pathways to STEM for young people. Since 1976, students have discovered new possibilities through DAPCEP Saturday classes, in-school programs, college and industry visits, STEM events, summer experiences, and more. We marked this historic milestone with our 50th Anniversary Gala, bringing together DAPCEP families, alumni, educators, corporate and community partners, supporters, and friends who have helped make our work possible. It was a special evening honoring DAPCEP’s legacy while looking ahead to the opportunities we can create for the next generation. We extend a special thank you to some organizations whose support helped make this celebration possible: DTE Energy, University of Michigan, University of Detroit Mercy, Stellantis, Universal Contracting Services, Southfield Public Schools, SEEL (Solutions for Energy Efficient Logistics), National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen, Motor City Electric, Michigan Tech University, LeCom Utility Contractors, Kresge Foundation, Kelly Services, K2 Family Foundation, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Ferris State University, Detroit Public Schools, Cummins, Bradley University, ATK Energy Group, and 2050 Partners Inc. We are incredibly grateful for your continued investment in DAPCEP and the students we serve. The gala was more than a celebration. Proceeds will help support the expansion of DAPCEP’s STEM programming and educational opportunities, including introducing students to skilled trades and additional career pathways. More information about these exciting initiatives is coming soon!
Explore What’s New This Fall
This past Saturday, we were excited to welcome our youngest learners—DAPCEP Explorers for their first day of class! We look forward to seeing what they create, discover, and learn as they explore STEM through the magic of Engineering the Fairytales this semester. Next up: Pathfinders! Classes for students in grades 4 –12 begin Saturday, October 3. There’s still time to register! Scroll down to STEM Experiences This Fall to explore some of
the opportunities still available. The fall semester wraps up on November 7 with our Fall Showcase, where students will present their projects, demonstrate what they’ve learned, and share their accomplishments with fellow students and families. Don’t miss your chance to join us this fall! Register Now!
Register Now!
DAPCEP Annual Teacher Training Great STEM experiences begin with great educators. This month, DAPCEP teachers participated in our annual Teacher Training, an important part of preparing for a successful school year. Educators explored topics including Behavioral & Student Management Processes, Personal Safety & Threat Awareness Training, and Out-of-School-Time Education Best Practices. These sessions help equip our teachers with practical tools and strategies to create engaging, supportive, and effective learning environments where students can explore, ask questions, solve problems, and build confidence. We’re excited for another great year of learning!
One Year. 50 Events. A Celebration of STEM.
Our 50th Anniversary celebration kicked off at the 50th Anniversary Gala, and now we're excited to launch a series of 50 events throughout our 50th year. Our first event brought the General Motors Audit Team to the DAPCEP office, where they volunteered their time and talents to improve our inventory systems and archive program data. Volunteers and community partners play an important role in helping DAPCEP create opportunities for students. We're grateful to the GM Audit Team for sharing their time, energy, and expertise as we begin this special year. As our journey continues, we look forward to highlighting the partnerships, people, and experiences that make a lasting difference in our community. Join the celebration by hosting an event with your organization! Fill out our Volunteer Registration form below or email [mwebb@dapcep.org] to get started. Volunteer Registration
STEM Experiences This Fall App Creators Studio: Build Your First iOS
Students step into the world of app development as they design and prototype their own beginner-friendly apps. They’ll learn the fundamentals of Swift and user-centered design while creating interactive screens, animations, and features using Swift Playgrounds and app design templates.
On the final day, students will showcase their app concepts and present their ideas like realworld developers turning their creativity into an app concept they can be proud of!
Register Here!
Bioengineering
What happens when engineering and medicine come together? In DAPCEP’s Bioengineering Program, students explore how engineers help solve problems in medicine and healthcare. Through hands-on activities, students will create a model hand, investigate prosthetics, participate in a virus simulation, and explore other applications of bioengineering. Students will also visit a medical school during one of their class sessions to see how engineering and medical science intersect in real-world settings. Another highlight is an introduction to ultrasound imaging. Students will learn how ultrasound technology works, explore the role engineers play in medical imaging, and even use ultrasound to image everyday objects, then try to identify the objects using only the ultrasound images! Register Here!
Announcements DAPCEP and Michelle Reaves Honored with Spirit of Detroit Awards!
DAPCEP’s 50th Anniversary Gala included an especially meaningful recognition of five decades of service to the community. During the celebration, DAPCEP and Executive Director Michelle L. Reaves were presented with Spirit of Detroit Awards in recognition of their contributions to the Detroit community. The honor marks a special moment in our anniversary year and recognizes DAPCEP’s longstanding work to expand access to STEM education and create opportunities for young people across Detroit and Southeast Michigan. This recognition also reflects the collective impact of the students, families, educators, partners, alumni, volunteers, and supporters who have been part of DAPCEP’s story. We thank the Detroit City Council for this special recognition and look forward to continuing the work for generations to come.
Detroit Free Press Highlights DAPCEP’s 50-Year Legacy
As DAPCEP celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Detroit Free Press recently reflected on our history of expanding STEM opportunities for young people throughout Detroit and Southeast Michigan. The feature highlights DTE Energy President & CEO and DAPCEP alumna Joi Harris, whose journey illustrates the lasting influence that early exposure to STEM and educational opportunities can have on a young person’s future. Since its founding in 1976, DAPCEP has reached generations of students, helping young people explore STEM fields, develop skills, build confidence, and envision new possibilities for their futures. DAPCEP alumni have gone on to become professionals, leaders, educators, and advocates in their communities. The story also provides an opportunity to recognize the many students, alumni, educators, partners, and supporters who have contributed to DAPCEP’s story. As we celebrate this milestone year, our focus remains firmly on the future: creating new pathways, expanding opportunities, and inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders. Read full story 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: Jenna Sumlin
"At just 11 years old, I decided I was going to be an engineer and I never looked back. Because of that one DAPCEP class, I explored related opportunities... and continued participating in every afterschool DAPCEP program my parents would take me to from 6th grade through my senior year. I went on to attend the University of MichiganDearborn, where I earned two Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees: one in Industrial & Systems Engineering and another in Manufacturing Engineering." -Jenna Sumlin, Sr. Manager – Industrial & Systems Engineering Transformation
Before DAPCEP, I had never considered engineering as a career. Though no one in my family had gone to college before, my parents were very adamant that I would. At the time, my teachers were the only people I knew personally who had gone to college, so I thought I would pursue education. Then, in middle school, I was placed in Mrs. Butler’s DAPCEP class at Clippert Academy in Detroit. At just 11 years old, I decided I was going to be an engineer and I never looked back. Because of that one DAPCEP class, I explored related opportunities, which led me to enroll in Cass Technical High School’s engineering curriculum. I dug into college engineering programs across the state, literally covered my bedroom walls with magazine articles from those programs, and continued participating in every afterschool DAPCEP program my parents would take me to from 6th grade through my senior year. I went on to attend the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where I earned two Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees: one in Industrial & Systems Engineering and another in Manufacturing Engineering. Since then, I have worked as an Industrial Engineer across several industries, including nonprofit, automotive, and now energy. Today, I serve as the Senior Manager of Industrial & Systems Engineering at Consumers Energy, where I lead a team of engineers focused on transforming the way we provide gas and electricity to Michigan residents — reducing costs and improving reliability for our customers. This work is
especially rewarding because it allows me to have a direct impact on energy affordability, which is something many people struggle with where I am from. What an awesome feeling it is to go to work every day and not just make money — but make a difference. I am afforded this amazing opportunity because of my early exposure to engineering through DAPCEP. Because of that experience, I recommend DAPCEP courses to parents and students every chance I get; I even enrolled my own daughter in the program at just 4 years old. Congratulations to DAPCEP on 50 years of making a difference in the lives of children across the metro Detroit area. Your work has opened doors, created possibilities, and helped students like me see a future we may not have imagined on our own. I am proud to be part of the DAPCEP story, and I am forever grateful for the role this program has played in mine.
— Jenna Sumlin, Sr. Manager – Industrial & Systems Engineering Transformation
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!
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Thank you from DAPCEP! For 50 years, DAPCEP has been fortunate to be surrounded by a community that believes in the power of investing in young people. From educators and families to volunteers, alumni, corporate partners, and community supporters, so many individuals and organizations have played a role in helping DAPCEP grow and make a lasting difference. Because of your continued support, students have been able to step into classrooms and labs, meet professionals who look like the possibilities they envision for themselves, explore careers they may not have otherwise considered, and build meaningful connections that can shape their futures. As we celebrate this milestone year, we’re not only looking back at where DAPCEP has been —we’re looking ahead to where we can go together. The next 50 years will bring new students, new ideas, new technologies, and new possibilities, and we are grateful to have a community that continues to stand behind our mission. Thank you for believing in DAPCEP, championing our students, and being part of the ripple effect that has carried this mission forward for generations.
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