HOUGHTON, Mich. — Applications are now being accepted for the Tracks to the Future Summer Program, which offers high school students a chance to learn about rail transportation and engineering, and why it could be an inviting career choice.
Michigan Tech University, Penn State-Altoona, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are combining for the program, which has received funding from the Federal Railroad Administration. Applicants who are accepted will receive scholarships covering the program fees. Transportation to the campuses is not included.
Two versions of the program will be offered this year. Up to 20 students will participate in a week-long program on the Michigan Tech campus from June 27 to July 1; 60 more can participate in a hybrid program July 11-15 that combines an on-line program with a two-day visit to the three participating schools, with a maximum of 20 students on each campus.
More information on the program and how to apply is available at the Tracks to the Future website. Rail industry companies interested in supporting the students are encouraged to contact Michigan Tech at rail@mtu.edu or 906-487-3547 for more information.
As a Tech grad I am proud of what Pasi and the gang up in Houghton have put together and a little jealous it all happened since I graduated so I never got the chance to participate as a student. It is pretty impressive since Houghton hasn’t seen a train since the early 1980’s and the nearest active track is 30 miles away and even that line only sees light traffic.
Lodging is mentioned, but travel is not insignificant since the school is famously (by postcard at least) two miles past the end of the earth… https://www.mlive.com/news/2021/01/how-this-end-of-earth-2-miles-road-sign-became-a-part-of-upper-peninsula-lore.html
I wonder if they will explain to the students that they may have to work ungodly hours, be subject to layoffs, relocations, reduced benefits and/or force reductions be it craft or management.
I did not see Room & Board mentioned.
Correction, I see Lodging is supplied. Nice. Hope they get takers.