The more South Whidbey High School senior Thomas Rasmussen learned about Project Lead the Way, the more he shook his head.

Rassmusen is well on his way to pursuing a career in computer technology, but he couldn’t help but feel jealous for students who will experience the nationally-used program next fall.

Using a hands-on approach to vocational education, the program aims to suit the needs of a booming industry in the Pacific Northwest, Principal John Patton said. Instead of solving scenarios taken from a book, students will bring working prototypes of objects such as a Mars lander to life using 3-D printers. Project Lead the Way is the nation’s leading science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) solution in over 8,000 schools, according to the program’s website. Patton said he was interested in the program after learning that a plethora of engineering jobs are ripe for the taking in the Pacific Northwest. The same can be said nationwide.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, jobs in STEM will grow 17 percent by 2018, nearly double the growth for non-STEM fields.

South Whidbey will offer two engineering classes and a possible third in the 2016-17 academic year.

In an introduction class, students will learn basic concepts and roles of engineering including 3-D modeling, technical sketches and structural analysis. An advanced class will challenge students with more hands-on activities such as basic computer programming, robotics and engineering in design and structures. The classes will be offered for grades 9-12 while a third, Advanced Principles of Engineering, will be offered based upon student interest.

Technology teacher Jeff Greene will head the program. He’s implemented Project Lead the Way

curriculum for around six years, but will offer classes officially under the program’s umbrella for the first time in the fall. The coursework will not be easy, he said.

“When we get into the full Project Lead the Way stuff, there’s a rigor to it,” Greene said. “The kids have to be ready for it. It’s heavy content.”

Greene said he hopes the program will capture the interests of students who otherwise may not have come in contact with the field. Rasmussen, who took a class with Greene similar to those to be offered in the fall, said the class can be universally enjoyed by students.

“Engineering is definitely a field where you can come in knowing nothing about it, enjoy it, and you can take that and run with it,” Rasmussen said.

Greene said Rasmussen was a prime example for those he hopes will enroll in the program.

“He was enthusiastic and enjoyable to teach,” Greene said. “He may not have loved everything we were covering, but he did it, knuckled down and was accomplished and got something out of it. Those are what we’re hoping for.”

“All we’re trying to do is cast this big net out and throw out all these flavors of what mechanical engineering and computer science and biotech and nanotech (are) and see if something lights up,” he added.

The program will be a means for connecting students to the engineering field in the hope that some find interest in pursuing it as a career, Patton said. Students who wish to attend four-year universities or vocational schools for engineering and fabrication will also be heavily aided by the program.

Greene and Patton also have hopes the program will grab the attention of girls at the school, who have traditionally lacked the interest, they said.

“Our girls need to know that if they get into the engineering field, they can pretty much write their own ticket because employers and Fortune 500 companies are begging for female applicants,” Patton said. “Our girls here are very bright in math and science and have all the skills. I just want to give them a shot and see what it’s all about.”

Through problem-solving and critical thinking, Patton believes the program can also help slow a crisis happening in the education system that turns students off from mathematics and science from an early age.

“I think it will because what the whole program encompasses really easily is kids are going to have a problem, a real-world issue, and how do you solve it?” Patton said. “You take the problem, you critically think and you design and then actually fabricate your solution.”

Greene said the classes will be unique in the fact that failing will be succeeding.

“You have to fail at some point to relook at the problem and dissect and turn it around and come back at it,” Greene said. “That’s the fun part of teaching engineering.”

“They fail and they don’t understand why I’m smiling. It’s like, ‘OK, fix it.’ ”