Art Harper Saturday Academy

Stevens Institute of Technology is committed to developing pre-college programming that broadens access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The Art Harper Saturday Academy, launched in Fall 2019, is a multi-year initiative that engages high school students with strong academic potential and limited access to STEM opportunities, helping them explore college pathways 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

People of all identities are welcome to participate. Stevens does not discriminate against any person on the basis of sex, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

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 a dedicated philanthropist with a strong desire to expand educational opportunities for students facing financial and educational barriers. He served on the boards of nonprofit 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, helped inspire the creation of the Stevens ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science) program. Stevens ACES engages students with strong academic potential who may have limited access to STEM resources, supporting their exploration of college pathways and advancement toward STEM degrees.

The Art Harper Saturday Academy (AHSA) was established in 2019 to honor Art Harper’s commitment to expanding educational access for students facing financial and educational barriers. With the support of Linda Harper and Nate Davis, AHSA encourages students who may have had limited exposure to STEM fields to explore their interests and provides resources to help them succeed academically and professionally.