"The goal is to get them interested and having hands-on experience and determining if this is the field they want to go in," said Dr. Marcie Fraser, instructor for New Visions Questar III and an adjunct professor at UAlbany's College of Emergency Preparedness.
"Homeland security and the protection of homeland security is our goal, to teach them how to work effectively to counter terrorism and to identify terrorism," Fraser added.
Questar's Emergency Preparedness, Informatics, Cyber Security and Homeland Security program (EPICH) selects advanced students in high schools throughout the region to learn about how technology can be used in the homeland security field.
Students from Hudson High School and Troy High School were in attendance on Thursday. It is expected that the program will welcome students from schools all over the Capital District next year, according to Fraser.
In the program, students learn how to hone skills in technology such as building drones and robots.
"What we are doing today in the drone lab actually can help us understand what a terrorist would use their weaponry for and how we can counteract it," said Dreven Sesay, 17, a senior at Troy High School.
Originally interested in computer science, Sesay was surprised when he realized just how his skills could span far beyond what he could have imagined.
"I got here and then started learning that I can use my skills in technology out in the real world to have a real effect on people and save lives," Sesay said.
In the program, the students take three introductory college-level courses to obtain college credits to be applied to their first year of college.
The EPICH program runs during the fall and spring semesters, and can accept up to 30 students who must apply to be accepted.
"With COVID, the applicants were down but we suspect it's going to be full next year and very competitive," Fraser said.
"It's a really great experience for the kids. It's something that's going to launch these students into the area of homeland security." Fraser said.
The program will work to begin recruitment for upcoming classes. Students who are interested can reach out to their school counselors for information on the Questar III EPICH program.
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