GE Aerospace Launches Young Engineers Program in Capital Region

Engineers from the GE Aerospace Research Center are set to train local students in New York’s Capital Region as part of a new initiative aimed at cultivating the next generation of technology leaders. The Next Engineers program, which is supported by the GE Aerospace Foundation, will provide free training to approximately 4,000 students over the next four years in collaboration with the Museum of Innovation & Science (miSci), the University at Albany, and NY CREATES.

The program is designed to engage eighth and ninth graders through hands-on activities that promote teamwork and introduce them to the field of engineering. Chris Hunter, President of miSci, announced that museum staff will visit local schools accompanied by a volunteer engineer from GE Aerospace. “Part of the process is us bringing kind of a fun, hands-on activity and building teamwork and introducing them to engineering,” Hunter explained. “The volunteer will assist students while sharing insights into what it means to be an engineer.”

The initiative is scheduled to commence in early 2026. Students from the Schenectady City School District will participate, alongside peers from Ballston Spa, Albany, and Cohoes. The program will initially focus on hands-on classroom lessons for eighth and ninth graders, with select tenth-grade students advancing to an engineering academy. This academy will include design challenges and workshops aimed at college readiness, providing opportunities for scholarships to those who pursue engineering degrees.

Having previously established the Next Engineers program in states like Ohio and South Carolina, as well as internationally in England and South Africa, GE Aerospace has committed $20 million through 2030 to launch the program in four new locations, including the Capital Region, India, and Poland.

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, representing Rotterdam, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The need for engineers has never been greater. Around the world, the demand for skilled problem-solvers continues to rise, but only about 20% of high school students express interest in these STEM careers. That’s what makes programs like Next Engineers so important.”

Globally, more than 26,000 students aged 13 to 18 have participated in the Next Engineers program. Joe Vinciquerra, General Manager and Senior Executive Director at the GE Aerospace Research Center, expressed pride in collaborating with local institutions to launch the program in the Capital Region. “We know firsthand the impact thousands of engineers can have in changing people’s lives for the better,” he said. “Through Next Engineers, we will help cultivate talent to address the world’s biggest technological challenges.”

This initiative not only aims to inspire young minds but also contributes to addressing the growing demand for engineers in an evolving technological landscape.