This paper will compare and contrast the use of a short “popcorn” project as part of a week-long summer program for high school students and the use of the same project as a multi-week project for an orientation class. Pre and post survey assessments were done and will be discussed. In the summers of 2007, a week-long academy, Reaching Engineering and Architecture Career Heights (REACH), was hosted by the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. A Chemical Engineering/Industrial Engineering nine-hour module was a part of this academy. During this module, the students worked on product and process design concepts related to the manufacturing of popcorn. Popcorn was used as a mechanism to show chemical reactions (in a microwave), separation (using various filter sizes), and recycle. The students worked in teams to develop the most cost effective, “best” popcorn process to provide the customer with a satisfactory product (based on consumer surveys). The fall freshman orientation course was focused on chemical engineering. The paper will compare student surveys and outcomes for the popcorn project for high school students versus college freshmen.

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