The first time Jacob Durrah stepped into the Michigan Engineering Zone, he saw his future.
He was a sophomore at what used to be Finney High School on the city’s west side—now East English Village Preparatory Academy. He was good at math, but didn’t really know how to put that skill to use—until he visited the Midtown makerspace for robot-building.
The MEZ is a safe and supportive forum where Detroit students can acquire the knowledge they need to propel themselves to higher education and STEM careers. University of Michigan faculty, staff, students, and alumni provide training and mentoring within an environment of learning, leadership, teamwork, and fun.
“From that day on, I was hooked,” Durrah said. “It started off with me realizing that I can be an engineer—that I do have these critical thinking skills that can be developed.
“Growing up, I didn’t have much exposure to engineering, or individuals who were telling me to go to college and pursue a higher education.”
Durrah is among the more than 2,800 Detroit-area high school students who have been helped by the Michigan Engineering Zone, or MEZ, since the University of Michigan opened it in 2010. At the center, students explore their interests and grow their abilities in science, technology, engineering and math.
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