Hk Maker Lab
Free Summer Engineering Design Program For Rising High School Juniors & Seniors
Hk Maker Lab is a free, two-phase, hands-on engineering design summer program for high school students graduating in 2027 or 2028. It runs for 5 weeks from July 6 through August 7, 2026. The program includes the first 3-week session of Columbia Engineering's Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE), followed by a 2-week Hackathon for Health Equity focused on developing innovative solutions to health challenges. You get SHAPE at no cost and much more!
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By successfully completing Hk Maker Lab, you gain the option to enroll in NY Bioforce the following year, which includes a paid summer internship at a prestigious research or health care institution. You also become a lifelong member of Hk's alumni community, which gives you access to special educational and networking events and other academic and career support.
Prospective Students
Student Success
Hk Maker Lab alumni have continued on to pursue 4-year STEAM degrees at a variety of great schools, including:
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​Boston College
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Brown University
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Columbia University
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Emory University
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Harvard University
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Hunter College
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Princeton University
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Vanderbilt University
“We designed our own websites and created our own apps that we could use on our phones or tablets!”
Justin Boutin – Hk Maker Lab 2023
Eligibility & Application
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Application Deadline: December 5, 2025
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Who is Eligible?
This program reaches students from low-resource backgrounds, helping to expand access to STEAM for learners of all backgrounds and abilities.
​Additionally, an eligible applicant...
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Is currently in10th or 11th grade (graduating in 2027 or 2028)
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Attends a NYC public or charter high school
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Can demonstrate educational and/or economic disadvantage:
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Applicant attends a NYC high school that has an Economic Need Index (ENI) of 80% or higher. Click here to check your school's ENI.
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Applicant family income qualifies for Medicaid, SNAP (EBT card), TANF, or other similar government aid OR they live in public housing.
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How do I Apply?
We run Hk Maker Lab in collaboration with SHAPE, which means that you'll need to complete our eligibility screening application first and then complete the SHAPE application. Make sure that you complete our screening application first and that you follow these steps:​
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Submit the brief Hk Maker Lab application through the button below.
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If you qualify, you will be invited to interview with the Hk team.
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After you complete the interview, you will be notified of your conditional acceptance.
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Accepted applicants receive instructions to complete Columbia's SHAPE application ASAP to confirm their acceptance and finalize the process.
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Students who have questions regarding the application should contact our Program Manager, Aishwarya (aishwarya@hypothekids.org).
Share the Opportunity!
If you know of any strong candidates who would benefit from our program, please share a link to this page or the flyer below to help spread the word. We believe in the power of quality education and want to give every student the opportunity to succeed in STEAM. Download the flyer!
Stay Up to Date
Stay connected to learn how we're equipping the next generation of STEAM trailblazers. Get program highlights, student success stories, and updates on ways your support is making a difference.
What To Expect
Hk Maker Lab students will immerse themselves in the fundamental principles of engineering, get hands-on experience in design & innovation techniques, and complete projects under the mentorship of our experienced instructors. We aim to educate and inspire students at an early stage so that they get a strong start to a future STEAM career. The program provides a rich, multi-faceted learning experience while developing a network to support future academic and work endeavors.
Curricula
​Hk Maker Lab contains two phases:
Phase 1 (weeks 1-3): Students complete a course led by Columbia Engineering faculty, such as Biomedical Engineering or Innovation and Design. The course in which a student is placed depends on their preference, with priority given to students who submitted applications earliest.
Sample Curriculum from Phase 1: SHAPE Biomedical Engineering Course
Phase 2 (weeks 4-5): All Hk Maker Lab students converge to participate in the Hackathon for Health Equity and work on final interdisciplinary group projects. The projects involve creating digital media, such as an app or a web site, that addresses a health disparity. Here are some examples of students' digital media projects:
