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Now, five years after Tuscarora High opened its doors, students who have completed the eight-credit course of study can apply for academy recognition for the first time, according to Paul Hoyt, an engineering and technology teacher at Tuscarora High.

"It's been growing since we opened the school because it takes time to get the courses in place," Hoyt said from his classroom on Sept. 29. "Now this is the first time that we have the opportunity to offer the academy recognition."

Frederick County's nine high schools offer specific "academies," or rigorous courses of study in specialized areas.

For example, students at Catoctin High School can apply to its Environmental Academy, Linganore High School has the Junior ROTC Magnet program, and Brunswick High School offers a Teaching Academy.

These academies, including Tuscarora High's, are open to students within the respective schools and to those who are out-of-district.

At Tuscarora High School, there are 75 students enrolled in the Pre-engineering 1 introduction course. Nearly 60 students in total are enrolled in the upper level Pre-engineering courses 2 and 3, Hoyt said.

Pre-engineering students study a combination of science, math (pre-calculus, statistics and probability) and technology courses during the three-year program. The upper level courses are where students learn practical applications and build projects such as hovercrafts or hydroponic plant growing stations.

Erin O'Sullivan, a 15 year-old sophomore at Tuscarora High, said she already foresees a career for herself in NASA and plans to take Pre-engineering 2 next semester.

During her pre-engineering 1 class last month, Erin was working at the "design of structures" station, one of 12 stations set up around the classroom that focus on different aspects of engineering. "I like doing hands-on stuff," she said.

Erin noted that it doesn't bother her being the only girl in her pre-engineering class. "I think it will help me later in life," she said.

Hoyt is also hoping to draw more girls into the Pre-engineering Academy, who make up about a quarter of the students in the program. Though that number may seem low, it is high compared to the number of women in the industry, Hoyt said.

"At this age, the girls do better," he said, noting the girls' overall maturity and willingness to think outside of the box in solving complex problems.

But Tuscarora High School is also looking to increase overall enrollment in the academy and its extra-curricular activities, thanks to a $5,000 grant awarded in August from SES Americom, a satellite communications company based in Princeton, N. J.

In July, three Tuscarora High teachers applied for the grant, including Matthew Schumacher.

According to Schumacher, students studying television production will create and broadcast promotional videos on the engineering program for their daily televised show, which serves as a popular source for school announcements and news.

Schumacher — who is also the station manager and approves the materials for the student-scripted television show — said that since the show's debut four years ago, it has increased student participation in school activities. "It's become a necessity in the school," he added.

Tuscarora High will also use the grant to stream videos about the program onto the school's Web site for parents and residents to see, with the hope that it will boast community involvement in the program. Students in marketing and business will also create promotional brochures for the Engineering Academy.

Also in the works is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), a club for engineering students that would allow them to delve into robotics and ultimately compete in national robotics competitions.

Teachers are laying the groundwork now so that by "day one next year we're on the ground running," Schumacher said.