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Barajas Completes Rigorous Summer Program at MIT
- Updated: September 9, 2016
Alexander Barajas from LFHS took part in a prestigious summer program at MIT. Photo: LFCISD
by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD
Los Fresnos High School senior Alexander Barajas was one of 70 students nationwide to participate in the Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The six-week program was held from June 11 to July 21.
MITES is very selective with less than 70 students are accepted per year. About 2,100 students applied.
“It was really hard with all the courses we had to take,” Barajas said. “They tried to emulate the college experience by living in the dorm and going to class.”
Other college students act as teacher aides and helped to teach the class. Students received $80 a week for food and other expenses. “We stretched the $80 to make sure it would last every week,” Barajas said.
MITES is a rigorous residential academic enrichment program for promising high school seniors – many of whom come from underrepresented or underserved communities – who have a strong academic record and are interested in studying and exploring careers in science and engineering.
This national program stresses the value and reward of pursuing advanced technical degrees and careers while developing the skills necessary to achieve success in science and engineering.