Our Mission
All Xavier students are welcome to participate in EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service), a design-based, service learning program that teaches students about engineering and technology fields while civically engaging them in their local communities. In this program, teams of students work together on projects that address the engineering and technology-based needs of community service and educational organizations. This partnership provides many benefits to the students and the community alike. Students are introduced to engineering, technical design, and social responsibility, while community partners gain access to resources needed to provide valuable services to their organization. In the Xavier EPICS program, EPICS/High also provides an opportunity for us to use engineering and service learning to integrate and gain an understanding of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching.
History
EPICS was founded at Purdue University in 1995 and now includes over a dozen other national and international universities. EPICS/High is the high school affiliate of this program that began in 2006. EPICS/High can be found in more than 50 high schools across the country, including Xavier College Preparatory. Xavier offers EPICS as a full-year academic program or as an independent study. Some students decide to participate in both programs, working with different teams and completing different projects in each.
EPICS is a mix of partnerships working together to produce quality, design-based projects that help local community agencies make a difference in people's lives. It all starts with you, the student. EPICS is not only hoping to attract science and math students, but students with various academic interests. It takes all personalities and strengths to make EPICS teams successful in completing meaningful projects for their communities. EPICS will show you how engineering and design make a real difference in the world and helps people all around you everyday.
For more information about EPICS/High, see the Purdue EPICS/High website.
EPICS is a mix of partnerships working together to produce quality, design-based projects that help local community agencies make a difference in people's lives. It all starts with you, the student. EPICS is not only hoping to attract science and math students, but students with various academic interests. It takes all personalities and strengths to make EPICS teams successful in completing meaningful projects for their communities. EPICS will show you how engineering and design make a real difference in the world and helps people all around you everyday.
For more information about EPICS/High, see the Purdue EPICS/High website.
Purpose
EPICS at Xavier is unique because it is an all-girl environment. The program is very empowering for the young women involved because it interests them in engineering, math, science, and technology as a possible career path; something that was previously not a popular career among women. The role of women in engineering, math, science, and technology is growing so it is only fitting that Xavier College Preparatory, a school full of bright, intuitive young women, be a host to the EPICS program. EPICS at Xavier is also unique because it uses engineering to integrate and understand the seven themes of catholic social teaching as defined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Using these seven themes in engineering enables students to experience a strong connection to the community through faith and understanding. Xavier students also benefit from the EPICS program because it implements the idea of service learning. Xavier College Preparatory combines academics with service learning to offer a unique experience where students are able to do something real and see the ultimate outcome of their efforts.
- Life and dignity of the human person
- Call to family, community, and participation
- Rights and responsibilities
- Option for the poor and vulnerable
- The dignity of work and the rights of workers
- Solidarity
- Care for god’s creation
Using these seven themes in engineering enables students to experience a strong connection to the community through faith and understanding. Xavier students also benefit from the EPICS program because it implements the idea of service learning. Xavier College Preparatory combines academics with service learning to offer a unique experience where students are able to do something real and see the ultimate outcome of their efforts.
