EMPOWERMENT

Twice a year student representatives from Metro get to attend conferences that are sponsored by the OSU College of Engineering and the Minority Engineering Program. The program partners with Columbus City Schools, the National Society of Black Engineers and others to plan and conduct the one-day conferences that expose middle and high school students to engineering. The Young Women Empowerment Conference is offered each spring for young women and the Man-to-Man Conference is held each fall, targeting African American young men.  

The purpose of the Young Women Empowerment Conference is to introduce the young women to math/science-based careers. Various workshops conducted by professional women are offered and participants also compete in an essay contest and have lunch with math/science-based career professionals.

Last spring, several of our students attended the conference and Katherina (we call her KC), then a first-year Metro student, won first place in the essay contest. She had to write her essay on the spot according to the assigned topic. The first place prize was a new laptop computer!

The Man to Man conference includes a bridge building competition where teams from the various schools work in groups to build and design a bridge. During the conference, students present their bridges. Structure and design strategy are tested, and winners are chosen. The winners are recognized at the award luncheon, which also features an outstanding speaker and discussion with professional role models. Various professionals in science, engineering, as well as the medical and legal professions serve as mentors for the group.

This fall, Metro’s representatives competed, and once again did very well in the essay contest. Tyler, a third-year student, came in second place for a prize of $100. Tyler’s essay topic was to write a letter set in the year 2028, to convince students in that future time why attending the conference would be good experience for them. This required him to visualize how the conference will affect his life and goals and express the impact to his future audience.

We have been very proud of our students every time we take them to these events. They have enjoyed competing with their bridge models and usually place very well in the competition. It gives them a chance to mingle with other students from Columbus and helps keep them connected with their home high schools.