The University of Memphis engineering department will mentor potential Herff College of Engineering Tigers from Wooddale High School through the awarding of a $100,000 grant.
The University jointly entered into a federal competition with Memphis City Schools to be considered for the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education Program Grant, funded by the Federal Highway Administration in honor of Garrett Augustus Morgan.
Born in 1877, Morgan was a black inventor and entrepreneur who inspired black innovators with his patented automated traffic light, gas mask and a hair-straightening method.
The grant will go toward a partnership with Wooddale High School's aviation program and the U of M's Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute to fund the proposed Memphis Transportation Engineering Careers Project.
"Both originations had really successful programs, but they were really independent," said Sean Ellis, associate director for the Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute. "Hopefully this will connect those programs to draw the students of Wooddale to seek to further their careers at the University."
Ellis said the money will go toward projects, transportation and mentors for students.
The U of M's chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers is one of the student groups expected to mentor the high school students.
"It will be hard with math and science courses, but we will be mentors to let them know there is light at the end of the tunnel," chapter president Kourtney Tolbert said. "If they face obstacles they can still overcome and become engineers."
Wooddale is MCS's optional program in transportation. The Aviation Magnet Program includes a flight simulation program for students.
"They graduate with a pilot's license," Ellis said. "It's one of the few places in the country where you can graduate with a pilot's license - something which usually costs thousands - they can earn for free within high school curriculum."
The Memphis Transportation Engineering Careers Project is designed to adhere to the goal of the Garrett Morgan Program, "to improve the preparation of students, particularly women and minorities, in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through curriculum development and other transportation-related activities."
"There are not a lot of minorities in the engineering field," Tolbert said. "We need to get our numbers up to show it is possible if you are black to get an engineering degree."
