The campus will remain closed until 12 noon Thursday, 02/13/25. Students should log into Canvas for specific class information from their instructors. Please contact event organizers for information on specific activities. Normal operations will resume at 12pm on Thursday.
The Lawrence Tech Women of Ford STEM project is dedicated to empowering young women in STEM fields by providing a transformative and immersive hands-on learning experience. Launched in Fall 2023 and set to be ended in June 2025, this innovative program is designed to offer young women from diverse backgrounds, primarily Detroit Public and Charter Schools, an opportunity to explore and engage with STEM careers in a supportive and collaborative environment. Throughout the program, 14 female high school participants took part in ten full-day sessions, each lasting five hours, where they worked on various STEM-related activities. The core focus of the program is STEM career awareness, with a special emphasis on a hands-on Electric Vehicle (EV) project. This project not only introduces participants to key engineering concepts but also allows them to apply their learning by working directly on assembling and understanding the components of an electric vehicle.
A unique aspect of the program is the mentorship provided by LTU’s Computer Science students, who guide and support the participants through the project. These mentorship sessions offer invaluable insights into collegelevel learning and career pathways in STEM fields. Participants also gained exposure to college life by sharing lab spaces with LTU students and enjoying meals together in the LTU cafeteria, providing them with a realistic experience of university culture and the academic environment.
This program goes beyond just learning technical skills; it fosters leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking while giving young women the tools and confidence to pursue STEM careers. By connecting them with current college students and professionals, the program aims to inspire and prepare these participants for future academic and career success in the growing fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. To ensure a smooth experience, the program also provides transportation, meals, and materials.
This program is thoughtfully designed and managed by the STEM Education team within the College of Arts and Sciences at Lawrence Technological University (LTU), with invaluable support from the STEM Center, spearheaded by Dr. Lindsey and Jay. The team’s collective expertise ensures a comprehensive and impactful learning experience for all participants. Under the guidance of Dean Patrick Nelson and in collaboration with Vice
President for Enrollment Management Lisa Kujawa, the program receives strong oversight and strategic direction to ensure its effectiveness and long-term success. Their leadership not only shapes the current program but also establishes it as a model for future community-driven initiatives.
This initiative is part of a broader vision to foster partnerships that provide hands-on STEM experiences to high school students, particularly those from underserved communities. By engaging LTU’s talented students and faculty, the program creates an environment where these young women can interact with college-level professionals, explore STEM careers, and gain firsthand exposure to the college experience. The goal is to build a pipeline that prepares the next generation of students to become the future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while also cultivating a strong sense of community and mentorship.
Through this initiative, LTU hopes to continue its legacy of being at the forefront of innovative education and contribute to developing highly-skilled, diverse professionals in the STEM fields. Additionally, the program aims to serve as a blueprint for similar projects, offering a sustainable, community-funded model that can be replicated and expanded upon for years to come.
Project Director: Wisam Bukaita, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences
Lab Manger: Devson Butani
LTU Peer Mentors: Sonya T. Tran, Noah J. Brown, Kaitlyn G. McCready, Koushik Veldhi, Alexis L. Zielinski, Alaina Smythe, Anthony Gabrail , Keira A. Askew, Harshita Guduru, Luke Pierini, Dhananjay Sunil
LTU Senior Leadership: Patrick Nelson, PhD, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Administrative Leads: Mrs. Cheri Frost and Mrs. Marilyn Wiseman
A special thank you to the Marburger STEM Center for providing logistical support to this program.
Use Your Cell Phone as a Document Camera in Zoom
From Computer
Log in and start your Zoom session with participants
From Phone
To use your cell phone as a makeshift document camera
