Story 2026 – From high school to hired

For the Cincinnati high schoolers participating in the Next Engineers: Engineering Academy program, engineering isn’t just a career option to consider when they’re older — it’s something they’re diving into now.

The global initiative Next Engineers, funded by the GE Aerospace Foundation and implemented by FHI 360 in seven cities globally, inspires young people to pursue careers in engineering. Through coaching from GE Aerospace employee volunteers, design challenges, and skills-building workshops, the program is investing in the next generation of innovators.

Next Engineers fosters the employability skills and technical confidence students need to succeed in the workplace. Participants practice public speaking — a key skill for an engineer — by regularly presenting their projects in front of a group.

The support for students extends beyond their participation in the program. “Our goal is not just to see them to the door of university and wave them off,” says Kyle Turner, program director for Next Engineers Cincinnati. “We want them to persevere, to go through and then gain employment at the end of the process.”