METT Scholars Provides 22 Laptops
1 October 2020 – Alabama A&M University MBA student and Founder of Minority Empowerment Through Technology (METT Scholars) John Zehnpfennig grew up poor in the inner city of Detroit. He understands about making difficult decisions between items for development or necessities like food. He overcame poverty and has made it his mission to help others do the same.
Alabama A&M Dean of Business and Public Affairs, Dr. Del Smith, challenged his MBA students to lead an impactful difference - John accepted. He had a conversation with his 15 year-old daughter, Halle, who inspired him to help HBCU STEM students without computers to attend their virtual courses.
John spoke with several HBCUs’ leaders and found that many engineering students were facing dire conditions – needing to share computers, WiFi, and even smartphones with family members and friends just to attend classes or complete coursework.
Virginia State University’s COVID policy restricts the Dean of Engineering and Interim Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences, Dr. Dawit Haile, from offering up his computer labs to students to use. He does not have laptop computers to loan or give to his students.
Dean Haile presents his students’ plight thus:
“…students [are] struggling to do their academic work with inadequate equipment or unstable WiFi connections. Some of our students have mobile phone or chromes that are not suitable for most of their engineering or computer science classes. A few other students have indicated that they had to share the home computer with their parents and their siblings. So, the support you provided is godsend for many who have been struggling since we switched to remote instructions.”
In a similar circumstance is Ms. Terry Lawlah, Executive Director of The Maryland Center at Bowie State University. She shared that her students faced many of the same obstacles in the face of COVID-19.
John undertook to provide Dean Haile and Ms. Lawlah with laptops for students. Engineering students need powerful computers to calculate complicated simulations, run programming software, and analyze large volumes of data. Engineering students require more power and memory than low-end computers can provide.
John’s initial goal was to obtain at least $2,000 in donations from others along with $1,000 of his own funds to purchase five computers for students. John quickly found his ambitious goal was not lofty enough; almost anyone he spoke to about the charity offered to donate.
John reached out to Dell Technology’s small business advisor Erin Stutter, explaining his goal to provide powerful laptops to these students. Ms. Stutter was excited by the charitable concept and invigorated her leaders to offer exceptional computers at a generous 50% discount. This enabled John to purchase 22 computers, likely impacting at least twice as many students.
Millennium Corporation’s CEO Kevin Jennings and his retired Executive VP Steve Ware each committed several thousand dollars for this cause. Many other people also pledged hundreds of dollars, amounting to nearly $15,000 so far. Additionally, Jennings and Millennium Corporation pledged an additional 15 computers to two HBCU this semester – VSU and Bowie State University in Maryland. Jennings says:
“I know this will make a big impact on the students. Thanks for leading the charge and reminding us how important it is to ensure we reach back to make an impact.”
Due to a desire to get these computers in student hands with maximal haste, John ordered seven laptops for VSU with the first tranche of donations he raised. With the additional generous contributions, he was able to purchase an additional five for VSU and 10 for Bowie State a week later.
According to Dean Haile of VSU:
“I know that these laptops will help so many to stay on track and do well when faced with challenges to leave a path of potential for a path of necessity. I also know that one day these same kids will attain high positions that afford them the chances to reach back and donate for those in needs.”
As a result of this outpouring of support, John has decided to found a nonprofit, Minority Empowerment Through Technology, with the mission to provide free computers to women, minority, and veteran students in engineering programs at HBCU, Hispanic Serving Institutes, and other underserved demographic serving institutes.
