MSOE’s University Scholars Honors Program strives to provide students with opportunities to network and impact the community with creative, real-world service projects. This year’s cohort is utilizing their networking skills to positively impact Milwaukee communities with their latest project with Discovery World. Discovery World is a local non-profit science and technology center that provides educational experiences and interactive exhibits for families. They approached the Honors Program for help with their Community Perception Project. Team members Taylor Casey, nursing student originally from Pewaukee, Wisconsin; John Dunne, mechanical engineering student and Minneapolis native; and Danielle Jasinski, mechanical engineering student hailing from Des Plains, Illinois, were eager to get involved.

“Discovery World strives to be a place of inclusion, but we have heard that this is not always the case,” the team said. “The goal to have Discovery World be a place of inclusion is why we enjoy working on this project. Visiting the museum encourages education and fun while exploring science and technology. Inclusion and perception of Discovery World will encourage community members to visit as well as inspire them to become participants in the STEM fields.”

The team set out to create a survey to send to Milwaukee community members to gauge their overall perception of Discovery World. Before they created the survey, however, they needed to learn more about the numerous communities that make up Milwaukee. That’s where the value of networking with local leaders and community partners came in. So far, the team has been in contact with ten community partners and met with Walnut Way’s Innovation and Wellness Commons in Lindsay Heights, Five Points Neighborhood Association, and District 8 alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa. These meetings provided the team with an inside look at Milwaukee’s diverse neighborhoods and the individuals who live there.

“Meeting with community partners has allowed us to learn about the communities in Milwaukee. We feel that members of these communities should have access to this museum and that it is an important element of learning for families,” the team said.

Not only did these meetings provide the team with valuable networking, communication and team building skills, it also fosters the MSOE Mindset. The MSOE Mindset identifies graduates as leaders of character, responsible professional, passionate learners, and value creators. Getting involved in project-based experiential learning empowers students to learn about their community while developing the skillsets they need to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. 

Meeting with community partners provided the team with a better understanding of Milwaukee’s diverse population and the different kinds of people Discovery World serves and has the potential to serve in the future. This helped the team know what types of questions to include in their survey, best methods of distribution, as well as what language to use to ensure it is accessible to a wider audience.

The team plans to finalize and distribute their survey in spring 2022. After gathering and analyzing the results, they will meet with Discovery World’s senior leadership team to present their findings as well as a demographic report of the neighborhoods. Casey, Dunne and Jasinski are grateful for the opportunity to grow as professionals while learning about their new home away from home.

“The biggest reward has been learning about the community that we are now a part of. As young adults, our group brings a professional, yet unique perspective to the survey and the questions it asks. Our leadership and project management skills have grown tremendously through this experience. Coming from different majors, our group has been able to connect and learn skills that will be valuable throughout our college careers, as well as into our professions in the future.”