Ten Round Rock ISD seniors were among the 21 high school students selected to participate in the prestigious Dell IGNITE spring internship program. This paid, 10-week STEM-focused experience was designed to give students real-world exposure to software, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
The program, held on the Dell campus in Austin from February to April, welcomed a competitive cohort drawn from Round Rock ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Leander ISD, and local private and charter schools. Of the 74 applicants, 21 were selected, with Round Rock ISD students representing nearly half of the final group.
Students met after school three days a week to collaborate in diverse teams, ensuring no team was made up entirely of students from the same school. Each team was tasked with designing a robot to complete a specific function. The program concluded with a final presentation night, during which student teams showcased their projects to a panel of Dell engineers and technology executives.
“I learned a lot, especially with 3D modeling. I actually was able to use what I learned from engineering class to help me with mockups. That was really helpful because I got to visualize the robot and see what I needed to model,” said recent Cedar Ridge High School graduate Anthony Davalos. “The people were really great, too. They gave us mentors who would help us with any questions we had or problems we ran into.”
The winning team, which included Round Rock ISD students Jackson S. (Westwood High School), Preeti S. (Round Rock High School), Riya C. (Westwood High School), and Davalos, designed a robot named Hermes. The robot could receive voice commands to retrieve tools and equipment, identify the correct items, and verify user credentials by scanning ID badges while navigating on wheels. Each winning team member received a Dell laptop to support their college journey.
“I really did need the laptop,” said Davalos. “I didn't know if I was going to have a laptop for college... So this was like really helpful!”
Davalos said the program solidified his interest in 3D Modeling. He plans to pursue modeling with cars and automotive technology after completing his studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Other Round Rock ISD participants included:
Sophia C. –
Anish M. –
Natalie M. – Westwood High School
Caden O. – McNeil High School
Adwik N. – Round Rock High School
Allen L. – Westwood High School
The Dell IGNITE internship provides students with hands-on experience in programming, circuit design, and 3D printing, along with mentorship opportunities and college readiness preparation. Students also gain insight into Dell’s innovation processes and may even have the chance to pursue intellectual property created during the program.
For more information about the IGNITE program, visit Dell Technologies IGNITE Internship Program.