Kettering University LITES Camp Attendees to Benefit From $9,000 Grant

Kettering University LITES Camp Attendees to Benefit From $9,000 Grant

A generous $9,000 grant from the Child Welfare Society (CWS) of Flint will help young women from across Genesee County attend the LITES pre-college program, which runs from July 15 to July 26 on the campus of Kettering University.

"We are grateful for the generosity of the Child Welfare Society of Flint," said Suzanne Petrusch, Interim Vice President of Enrollment and Co-operative Services. "Their gift supports students from the area with an immersive learning experience designed to encourage the pursuit of a STEM degree. Providing hands-on experiences and exposure to role models can set life-changing educational and career trajectories for LITES participants from Genesee County."

LITES (Lives Improve Through Engineering & Science) is a two-week residential program that introduces young women to what engineers and scientists do and how they improve people's lives through math, science, and technology. Students attend classes and labs on the Kettering campus and learn under University faculty.

Some of the program's lessons include seeing how engineers help prevent injuries by designing airbags and child car seats and testing them with crash test dummies; learning how engineers repair joints, limbs, and organs by making replacements that are functional and durable; exploring environmental challenges using science and engineering; and solving crimes by combining science and technology.

Students can also make new friends who love math and science and socialize with LITES mentors.

"Having current Kettering students volunteer as mentors for the LITES program really helped me feel at home. They answered all our questions and were perfect examples of females who loved the engineering field," said Peyton Spodney, a LITES alumna and current Kettering Mechanical Engineering student. "Coming to LITES definitely made up my mind about coming to Kettering. I already knew some professors and made a great group of friends. It's so rewarding to start your college freshman year and already know people who you did LITES with or upperclassmen girls who were your LITES mentors."

To qualify for LITES, students must complete 11th grade by July 1, 2024. The program fee of $1,500 covers on-campus housing in Thompson Hall and all meals, lab materials, and excursion costs. Scholarships to attend the program may be available.

About the Child Welfare Society of Flint

Since 1915, the Child Welfare Society of Flint has been quietly helping Genesee County youth. The CWS is a private foundation that offers grants to organizations that assist families and children with educational, health, and social needs. As a private foundation, CWS provides grants for programs and services that benefit youth in Genesee County.