He may not have realized it, but Derek Wong made a little history when he graduated from Wentworth last summer.
Wong became one of the first five students to earn a diploma at the Institute after earlier completing RAMP—the summer transition program for Boston high school seniors who are planning to attend Wentworth.
Wong said the program, offered through Wentworth’s Center for Community and Learning Partnerships (CLP) since 2011, gave him self-confidence and a firm foundation for his future.
“Looking back, I would do it all over again,” he said.
Derek Wong at commencement
RAMP may be the only program of its kind in Boston that offers a $1,650 stipend to each student, helping them to prioritize academics while still balancing their financial need.
Eighty students have participated in RAMP over the past five summers—growing from nine students in 2013, to 21 participants in 2014, to 27 in 2015.
Through internal and external partnerships, the Center hopes to increase participation in RAMP to 35 students in 2016 and 40 Boston students in 2017.
RAMP students work in interdisciplinary, collaborative teams to design and build prototypes that address a societal need in Boston. This year, students worked directly with the YMCA, the Boston Home, and the Trustees of Reservations. External partners such as EMC Corporation, HubSpot, IBM, IDEO, and Turner Construction bring unmatched industry based experience into the program.
Funding for RAMP is provided by the Lloyd D. Balfour Foundation, the Edwin S. Webster Foundation, and the Mabel Louise Riley Foundation.
—Dennis Nealon
