A connection between a Vibrant Virginia seed grant project and a long-time CECE partnership with the Urban Alliance program introduced high school student Mohammed Shameen to Virginia Tech.  

For over 10 years, CECE has partnered with Urban Alliance, an initiative matching young adults across the Greater Washington, D.C. area, Baltimore, Chicago, and Detroit regions to early career opportunities through paid internships, mentorship, and professional development. 

 “This partnership has made a real difference for students, helping them build new skills and preparing them for college and the workforce,” said Afroze Mohammed, associate director of strategic alliances for CECE. “Interning at Virginia Tech is a dream come true for many high schoolers. One talented former intern grew up in an affordable housing development nearby, did a great job as an engineering intern, and now works as a professional engineer. Seeing students grow and thrive through the Virginia Tech/Urban Alliance partnership has been a great privilege.”

Through Urban Alliance, Shameen interned with the Virginia Tech System Performance Laboratory in Alexandria to help with the STEaM Tech project, which held workshops offering middle school students the opportunity to understand how the world of transportation works. 

Participating in station-based activities centered on model trains, drones, maps, and maquettes, students learned about how to build an efficient, safe locomotive system. 

Shameen helped set up the workshops for students, contributing to the design and preparation of several key components. He assisted with the development of promotional materials, graphics, and icons; helped select model railway infrastructure and locomotives; created and edited videos for the workshop; supported the setup of the model city that hosted the train network; and participated in dry runs to test and refine the activities before they were delivered to students.

“Mohammed Shameen brought an important perspective to the project as a high school student,” said Maria Tomai, his mentor. “His feedback helped us think more carefully about how students his age might experience the workshop, what would feel engaging, and how to make the activities clearer and more accessible for school audiences. By contributing to the design, preparation, and testing of the workshops, Shameen was able to experience how collaborative projects are developed and delivered. Experiences like this, made possible through programs such as Urban Alliance, can help students build confidence, strengthen communication and problem-solving skills, and make a smoother transition to university and future professional environments.”

After graduating from high school, Shameen is interested in studying computer science or engineering.

“Urban Alliance taught me a lot of things that you need in the workplace,” he said. “I loved the community in the Urban Alliance program. A lot of my friends are in the program as well and intern at different places in the area. I liked that I was able to get a paid opportunity through this program, and I learned a lot from the leadership at Urban Alliance; they are very supportive and do their best to comfort you and help you out whenever you feel lost or don’t know what to do.”