For WPI students, Worcester is their home, and they are constantly striving to give back. Throughout the year, you’ll find our students in public school classrooms tutoring and mentoring, outside cleaning up parks, volunteering in food pantries, and running drives, collections, and fundraisers for organizations throughout the city. Here are some of their contributions.
Teacher Preparation Program Partners with Worcester Public School
Seven candidates in WPI’s Teacher Preparation Program completed their student teaching in the Worcester Public Schools this year, finishing the practicum required for Massachusetts state licensure. Along the way, they made a positive impact on many young people’s lives.
Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester
Three teams of WPI students helped the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate during the last year. Two teams assisted the organization’s ReStore with its e-commerce strategy. The first team analyzed and recommended e-commerce platforms, and the second developed an operational plan for inventory management. A third team developed a tool to assist Habitat employees and volunteers with translation when assisting customers.
Community Engagement & Pre-Practicum in Teaching
WPI’s Teacher Preparation Program partnered with the Worcester-based African Community Education organization to support its afterschool program with tutoring and assisting with enrichment programs. This helped students create authentic connections with K -12 learners while examining and redefining “community” and “community engagement.” They also learned to see things from different cultural perspectives and to approach interactions with humility and respect for other cultures.
Mill Swan HeadStart
WPI students designed and installed multiple STEAM-based play features for the Mill Swan HeadStart. The installations facilitate learning through outdoor play at the center.