After-school engineering program now in Woodlawn

The Birmingham Public Library has expanded an innovative after-school program designed to help local high-school students pursue technology careers using a $50,000 Community Impact Grant from the UAB Benevolent Fund governed by university employees.

The Teens Engineer Birmingham (TEB) program, already offered at the Central Library downtown, is available one afternoon per week at two branch libraries, according to a library news release.

In mid-September, the Woodlawn branch began offering TEB for students at Woodlawn High School, and the Southside branch is hosting students from Ramsay High School.

The Central Library also has added more activities for its TEB participants, most of them from Phillips Academy. The library used grant money to buy 3-D printers and other engineering equipment.

The UAB School of Engineering has helped coordinate TEB since 2015. 

“This program will encourage students to push themselves academically and prepare them for great success in future STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers,” said Lance Simpson, system teen librarian.

UAB employees contribute to the Benevolent Fund through voluntary payroll deductions. 

The fund, established in 1984, partners with more than 120 local nonprofit agencies, according to the fund’s website, uab.edu/benfund/aboutus.

The Community Impact Grants are given annually to one nonprofit or coalition of nonprofits that submits a proposal that could have “a deep and direct” positive impact on health, education or economic security in the Magic City, according to the website, uab.edu/benfund/support/impact.