Saturday Academy's Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering Program matches high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors throughout Oregon and SW Washington with scientists and engineers for 8-week internships in a professional scientific or engineering environment. ASE has been in operation since 1989 and has served over 3,000 students.

The internships typically start at the end of June and are full-time for eight weeks throughout the summer.  Interns assist one or more professionals who serve as mentors and gain first-hand, pre-professional experience in the mentors' career field. Some interns work on a specific project that they can complete by summer's end, some interns contribute for eight weeks to an ongoing larger project, and some participate in multiple smaller projects and tasks that represent the range of work for that field of science or engineering. 

ASE Staff Support

Full-time ASE staff members are always available for consultation.
We hire a local science/math teacher to monitor the progress of the student.
We offer a 60-minute orientation, which is presented in late May or early June.
An online Mentor Handbook is available for mentor reference.
Contact info of other mentors in related fields of work is available upon request.

Mentors Are In Control

ASE staff members recruit the applicant pool for the mentor, but the mentor screens, interviews, and makes the final selection. If the mentor does not find an acceptable candidate, the position will be closed with no further obligation. If properly planned, two or three mentors may "team mentor" one or more students. The mentors may assign reading material a month before the internship begins to give the student a jump start.

Make a Difference

The impact of the ASE Program extends far beyond the eight weeks in the workplace. Some apprentices are credited as authors or co-authors of professional publications, or they develop products used by their mentors. All have a clearer and more specific understanding of the academic preparation they will need to pursue these interests.

For mentors, the ASE Program provides a way to contribute to the education and training of the next generation of professionals and innovators. Mentors have found their apprentices to be creative and productive - worth the investment of time and resources.

Feedback from Mentors and Interns