Detroit Teens’ Engineering Innovation Inspires President Obama

A team of Detroit students's engineering project win them a ticket to the White House and the respect of President Obama.

A team of students from Detroit’s Paul Robeson–Malcolm X Academy see a better future for their city through engineering.

Jayla Mae Dogan, Ashley Cassie Thomas and Lucas Cain Beal, all 13, engineered a model of a more energy-efficient Detroit for the 19th annual Future City Competition, “Fuel Your City: Imagine New Ways to Meet Our Energy Needs and Maintain a Healthier Planet.”

The students believe that learning engineering will not only benefit them, but also their communities. “I am passionate about engineering because it will help me in the long run in life when I am on my own,” Lucas said. “I hope to use it to get a good job so I can help my neighborhood and my family, and to build up the neighborhood.”

Despite a series of setbacks, including a fire that destroyed not only their original project but their entire school, the student team was eager to rebuild their model and enter the competition.

Their efforts and perseverance led them to win the Excellence in Engineering Award at the 2012 Michigan regional competition. Their entry also earned them an invitation to the 2012 White House Science Fair, an event that convened student winners from science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the United States.

During his address to the teenage participants, President Obama stressed the importance of student achievement in STEM. “We've got to lift this up and emphasize how important this is and recognize these incredible young people,” Obama said. “This is what inspires me and gets me up every day."