Art Harper Saturday Academy

Stevens Institute of Technology is committed to creating pre-college programming that will lead to greater diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The Art Harper Saturday Academy, which began in Fall 2019, is a multi-year program that will reach out to high school students from under-resourced communities who are interested in pursuing college majors and careers in STEM related fields.

The core elements of the academy are: a math course, a project design course, and college prep workshops. In addition, students will receive academic support to improve their high school mathematics skills, gain exposure to various STEM careers and majors, and be provided with learning opportunities that apply their classroom knowledge to find solutions to real-world problems. The Academy takes place on the Stevens campus, allowing participants to experience a college environment, including access to our student dining facilities and attending select campus events.

Art Harper Saturday Academy Overview

Application Requirements and Process

We seek students with a demonstrated interest in a STEM field and a desire for hands-on project-based learning. In order to be eligible, applicants must also:

be in their sophomore year of high school
have completed Algebra I prior to the program start date
provide a current high school transcript
reside in or attend a school in a traditionally under-resourced community

In addition, students must submit the following:

online application
current high school transcript
recommendation form from a high school teacher or school counselor

The application for the 2024 - 2025 academic year is now closed.

Multi-year Program Commitment

The Art Harper Saturday Academy will recruit 20 students from neighboring communities and organizations to participate in the program for 10 Saturdays per academic year (approximately 5 Saturdays per semester). If accepted, students are asked to commit to participate in the academy for at least one school year. Once enrolled in the academy, students will have the opportunity to remain in the program from their sophomore through senior year of high school, further developing their STEM skillset and becoming a part of the Stevens community.

SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULE
9:30AM – 10:30AM	Math Course
10:30AM – 11:30AM	Math Lab
11:30AM – 12:30PM	Academic Break
12:30PM – 2:30PM	Project Design Course

About Art Harper

“No one who is successful does it alone, you need help along the way… and for me it all started at Stevens.”
-Art Harper

Art Harper and his wife, Linda Richardson Harper

Arthur H. Harper, affectionately known as “Art,” was born in Trenton, New Jersey. His love of chemistry led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. After graduating in 1978, he began a successful 20+ year career at General Electric (GE), where he rose to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Equipment Services Division. After leaving GE, Harper co-founded GenNx360 Capital Partners, a private equity buyout firm, which he managed until he passed away in September 2017.

Harper was an avid philanthropist with a strong desire to help underrepresented minorities and individuals from under-resourced communities. He served on the boards of non-profit organizations, donated to numerous charities, and funded two scholarships at Stevens. In 2017, Art, in collaboration with his friend Nate Davis ’76 and other Stevens alumni inspired the creation of the Stevens ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science) program. Stevens ACES recruits students from underrepresented backgrounds or under-resourced communities, and seeks to expose, stimulate and support their progress toward a STEM degree.

The Art Harper Saturday Academy (AHSA) was established in 2019 and named in honor of Art’s commitment to supporting under-represented minorities and students from under-resourced communities. With the financial support of Art’s wife, Linda Harper and Nate Davis, AHSA encourages and inspires students who may not otherwise pursue STEM as a career field and provides them with the tools needed to succeed. The academy serves as a testimony to a man who was committed to making a difference and helping others attain success.