On June 13, 72 rising high school seniors from across the country joined instructional staff and administration at MIT’s Simmons Hall for the Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) Welcome Dinner. It marked the beginning of the 39th session of MITES, the longest-running offering of the MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs (OEOP).
Yonatan Tekleab, summer program coordinator for MITES, greeted the students and charged them with one task: to change the world. “Changing the world can mean something different for everyone,” he said, while recounting his own academic and career path. He also commented on the social experience of the MITES program. “The bonds you create with one another will be everlasting,” he said.
Through the intensive MITES curriculum, each student will complete courses in calculus, physics, life science, and humanities, along with one hands-on engineering elective course. At the welcome dinner, Kathryn Shroyer of the MIT Sea Grant College Program previewed the new Underwater Robotics course, which joins MITES after a successful pilot course in OEOP’s one-week program, Engineering Experience at MIT (E2@MIT), last year.
After dinner, students learned about policies surrounding housing, safety and fitness, and recreation. Instructors and teaching assistants introduced themselves and the topics they planned to cover, and Brandon Holloway, head teaching assistant and MITES ’09 alum, revealed this year’s class theme: crafting the pillars of innovation.
MITES Faculty Director and Professor of Electrical Engineering Cardinal Warde stressed the value of good citizenship, striving for excellence, and stepping up to take challenges. He reminded students that “someone gave money to give you the chance to be here. Show appreciation. We want you to try really hard.”
The level of excitement in the hall was high among instructors, coordinators, teaching assistants, and especially the students. Ahmed Bosier, from Detroit, MI, said he’s excited to collaborate with like-minded people and learn more about engineering.
Abigail Arnold from Des Moines, Wash., said that aside from the great opportunity of being at a place like MIT, she’s most looking forward to meeting her peers. “We’re already planning a movie night,” she said.
In the closing remarks, Shawna Young, executive director of OEOP, reinforced that students will work harder than they have before, but that the experience will be worth it. “Take in every moment,” she said. “You won’t get it back, but it’s okay, because you have it now.”
