In October, CTS hosted seven girls from Blaine High School on a University of Minnesota campus visit designed to spark their interest in transportation. The visit was organized by TransportationYOU, a mentoring program of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) that encourages girls ages 13–18 to pursue transportation careers.
During their half-day visit, the students explored campus through a scavenger hunt, rode the Green Line, got behind the wheel of the HumanFIRST Laboratory’s driving simulator, saw a demonstration of the Nice Ride bike-sharing system, and toured the Civil Engineering Building. All activities were led by transportation faculty, researchers, and practicing professionals.
At the end of their visit, students shared lunch with a current undergraduate engineering student who talked with them about her experiences at the U of M. Volunteer mentors from WTS also participated in the day’s activities and shared their own college and work experiences.
The students agreed that they enjoyed seeing a college campus firsthand and that the information they gained will be valuable as they prepare for college and their future careers.
