Day: November 21, 2025

Peer mentor Wyat and our STEM Success Coordinator Harry picked up Summer Bridge students Yuliana, Will, Anthony, and Gabe at the front entrance of Wadsworth Hall on November 16 at 4:30 PM. We were headed to an instructor’s home for a family dinner before fall break. As we made our way from Wadsworth Hall, the students in the back were discussing memes.

After three miles, we made the turn onto the street and followed the rough, mostly dirt road to the instructor’s house. As we made our way out of the vehicle and approached the front of the house, where the instructor greeted us and said, “Come around back.” When we entered from the rear of the house, we took our shoes off and went into the dining room, where we met the instructor’s two children. We introduced ourselves and began a lively chat about psychology experiments and the ethical dilemma of experiments on nonhuman animals. The instructor offered us gluten-free mac and cheese and a rustic sauerkraut and meat dish with potatoes.

As time went on, a few more students from the previous Summer Bridge cohort showed up. Jose, Nina, and Everardo, each with a guest, joined our merry band of dinner party guests. With delicious food in our bellies, smiles and laughter filling the air, the night was coming to a close. We made our way out to the car with the cold winter air hitting our faces. On our way back to the campus dorms Yuliana, Will, Anthony, and Gabe in the back were discussing void memes. We dropped them off back at Wadsworth Hall around 7:30 PM.

On Saturday, October 1st at 1 p.m., peer mentors April and Wyatt, along with STEM Success Coordinator Harry, took Summer Bridge students Yuliana, Nate, Alexander, and Xavier on a trip to three stores to help them get winter ready.

It was a chilly and rainy day traveling from Wadsworth Hall to Goodwill. At Goodwill, Yuliana, Nate, Alexander, and Xavier, the peer mentors, and the STEM Success Coordinator perused the shelves and aisles, checking out the available items. While shopping, the students were amused by some of the old items they found. Alexander and Xavier spent some time looking at iPad and phone cases. Alexander also picked out a pair of skates, which needed some attention since the blades were a little dull. After the students checked out, we made our way to the second store: Keweenaw Consignment.

At the consignment shop, the students looked at some of the household furniture, bags, and helmets. Alexander particularly enjoyed an old green armchair, which he dubbed the “grandpa chair.” Yuliana tried on a few pairs of sweatpants. After checking out there, we made our way to our last stop on the trip: St. Vincent DePaul.

There, we explored the aisles a little and made our way into the building’s basement. In the basement, Nate found a pile of old crutches in the corner of the room. After checking out, we decided to walk to the nearest coffee shop for a quick mid afternoon pick me up. Alexander ordered a coffee and quesadilla to go, and Xavier ordered a mocha. As we walked back to the van, we discussed the food in the dorms and made our way back to Wadsworth Hall to drop the students off.

On Saturday, November 11th, at 1 p.m., peer mentor April and Dr. Minerick took eleven Michigan Tech Summer Bridge students on a fall colors tour at Mount Bohemia ski resort.

The group began by riding a chairlift to the summit of Mount Bohemia to view the vibrant fall foliage. They captured many scenic pictures from the mountaintop and explored the various trails available at the top of the lift. After riding the chairlift back down, they browsed the ski resort’s gift shop.

On the way back to Michigan Tech, they took a detour to see a waterfall, which the Summer Bridge students climbed. They were very photogenic, and many more pictures were taken at the site. Following the climbing and sightseeing, the students fell asleep on the drive back to Michigan Tech.