FI3T Project Showcases Accomplishments of DPS Students

The Fostering Interest in Information Technology (FI3T) Project, directed by UM-Dearborn SOE Associate Professor Mesut Duran is hosting a project showcase on Saturday, March 26th from 10:00am-1:00pm at the University of Michigan Detroit Center. The showcase will include project presentations by Detroit Public Schools high school students who have been participating in the FI3T program for the past two years. Some of these students recently participated in the 54th Annual Science and Engineering Fair of Metro Detroit 2010-2011, and several projects won prestigious awards:

• Adarees Black- Science: blue (Outstanding award)
• Pearl Gray - Mathematics: 3rd place in her category (Mathematics); US Metric Association Award; selected as Student Observer for Intel ISEF in Los Angeles in May.
• Lawrence Harris, Chelsea Reed and Chanel Wilkerson - Engineering: blue (Outstanding award)
• Jasmine Ross - Mathematics: green (Excellent award)

These and other projects will be on display at the FI3T showcase on Saturday. About 60 people re expected to attend the showcase including FI3T project faculty and staff from UM-Dearborn, participating high school students from Detroit Public Schools, their teachers, school administrators, and parents.

FI3T is funded by the National Science Foundation’s ITEST program and involves several UM-Dearborn faculty members and students from SOE, CASL, and CECS. The intent of the project is to increase the opportunities for underrepresented and underserved high-school students, particularly those from urban communities in Southeastern Michigan, to learn about and gain experience using information technologies (IT) within the context of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with an eye toward helping them explore 21st century career and educational pathways.

Anyone wishing to attend the showcase to celebrate the accomplishments of the students should contact the FI3T project office via telephone <313-436-9151> or email at fit_project@umd.umich.edu.