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Correspondent WILBRAHAM For many high school students, Math class is the most dreaded part of the day, but for incoming Minnechaug junior Erin Whitney, it's a window of opportunity. Whitney recently participated in the Frontiers Program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a program for incoming high school juniors and seniors interested in science, mathematics, and engineering. The 16-year-old was inspired by her math teacher to apply for the program, and was one of 147 students from an international applicant pool to earn a spot in the program. When Whitney's math teacher told her class about the Frontiers Program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Whitney was the sole student in the class to take advantage of the workshop. Whitney was one of only 28 young women in the program. From July 9 - 21, she stayed in a dorm on the WPI campus with a roommate. Whitney completed the American History Workshop, as well as the Electrical and Computer Engineering Program. "I've always been interested in Math and Science, and I wanted to explore careers within the fields," she said. Following a detailed application process of transcripts, essays, and teacher recommendations, Whitney was notified of her acceptance into the program. The Frontiers Program offers concentrations in areas of aerospace engineering, biology, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, interactive media and game development, math, mechanical engineering, physics, and robotics. During the weekdays, Whitney attended five hours of her chosen classes, along with two hours of a communication workshop. Her computer and electrical engineering program specifically focused on audio amplification, light wave transmission, analog signal processing, digital circuitry, and laboratory procedures. When the busy schedule came to a halt on the weekends, WPI students led program participants on a variety of field trips. The Frontiers Program has been around for 24 years. Adam Basilio, assistant director for the program, attended the workshop himself when he was a senior in high school. "The program is beneficial because it gives students the experience of college and the experience independence," Basilio explained, "It gets them thinking about college, interacting with different students, and learning about what they can do in the future." Whitney claimed that the workshop enhanced her interest for math, and led her to lean towards a certain career path. "I want to be an actuary," she said, speaking of the math-based profession focusing on the analyzation of risk. Confident in her current career aspirations, Whitney is in the process of taking the next step that plagues most high school students: choosing a college. She is currently exploring Babson, MIT, Dartmouth, and Worcester Polytechnic. Her experience on the Worcester campus may have slightly swayed her present feelings. "Right now, WPI is my favorite," she said. She also looks forward to an upcoming Frontiers reunion in October. In the future, she would like to try other programs similar to the Frontiers program. "The best part of the program was making friends and meeting people from everywhere," Whitney explained. Her parents, Kathleen and Peter, couldn't be more proud of their daughter's recent achievements. A member of her school's cross-country team, executive student council board, and K.E.Y. club, Erin Whitney is no stranger to a challenge, and all of her interests are wholeheartedly supported by both of her parents. "We have two daughters, and it's so essential that both Erin and Meredith will be able to support and take care of themselves," Peter Whitney said. "It's so important to be educated, and we're so glad that Erin's taking her own path." In a field where women are the minority, Erin represents what could be the future of mathematics and engineering. "It breaks the stereotype," her father said. As for now, he looks forward to tracking his daughter's success. "We just hope that she finds something that she loves and enjoys doing, because only then can she be truly happy." | ||||||
