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The Junior Engineers and Scientists Summer Institute (JESSI) was a national summer program for high schools students originally founded in 1955 through a collaboration between institutions of higher education and a Portland, Oregon non-profit corporation called “Scientists of Tomorrow.” Each institution hosted either girls or boys, with two to three institutions hosting co-ed sessions. Washington State University hosted the JESSI program beginning in the summer of 1959 with 200 boys in attendance under the direction of Dr. Harry Batey, professor of chemistry. The two-week program allowed students to explore engineering and science-related college programs and careers for a minimum of five hours per day during the summer before their junior or senior year of high school. Students learned about engineering and science opportunities through scheduled activities and informational talks presented by higher education faculty and industry professionals. Subjects covered included bacteriology, astronomy, botany, surveying, chemistry, zoology, electronics, physics, and other science and engineering content. Attendees were selected based on teacher recommendations and on intellectual merit determined by submission of an application and report card. Students entering their junior year were required to have successfully completed at least three years of mathematics and/or science, and students entering their senior year were required to have completed four years, to be eligible for admission.