About Alpha
WHO WE ARE
The Alpha Advanced Honors STEM program is a unique cohort program in which students have specialized Alpha Honors Science, Math, and English classes that focus on an all-encompassing STEM curriculum that is taught by dedicated STEM teachers. Lane Tech was one of the first schools in the district and state to offer a STEM program that embraces the integration of scientific research in the classroom. Today, Lane Tech provides support to other schools that are building their STEM program.
Class of 2019 Valedictorian Abhishek Joshi
ALPHA STUDENT SUCCESS
The Alpha program has been a catalyst for many Alpha students to pursue their dreams to major in a STEM field in college and become computer engineers, doctors, pharmacists, researchers, teachers/professors, and many other STEM related occupations. To that point, Alpha STEM students at Lane Tech are extremely hard-working and motivated to learn as much as possible about the STEM fields through coursework, workshops, clubs, and other activities. Previous and current Alpha students have advanced to the highest level of high school science fair competition at the annual INTEL International Science & Engineering Fair competitions, and have also published papers and earned patents for their research. In addition, Alpha students are consistently the top students in their class and also matriculate to the top universities in the country including but not limited to Columbia University, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, MIT, University of Chicago, Northwestern, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin - Madison, and University of Southern California . Students often benefit from full or partial tuition scholarships to these institutions.
Alpha Alumni
Bhavin Gandhi, Class of 2016
I graduated in 2016 and attend the University Of Michigan. I am working towards my bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering.
At the university, I work as a Resident Advisor (RA) and am a member of Michigan Mars Rover Team, where every year we build a fully functioning rover that can traverse the Utah desert in the Mars Society Competition! Last year we placed 3rd in the US and 9th in the World!
The alpha program provided me with resources and knowledge that I would not have had access to otherwise and it gave me a valuable leadership experience as the Council President for my year. It also made me take harder classes, especially AP Physics C which really prepared me for college as it taught me how to recover from failure.
Lastly, the community built during my year gave me something to strive for when I came to college and encouraged me to join the Michigan Research and Discovery Scholars Program, a similar organization to alpha where all the members lived in the same dorms and were required to do research on campus.
The image above is of Bhavin's subteam on the Mars Rover Team with the last few generations of robotic arms they made for the team.
Connie Machuca, Class of 2016
My name is Connie Machuca, and I graduated from Lane in 2016. I am a junior studying Environmental Studies and Marine Biology at the University of Southern California. Right now you can find me studying Marine Science and Oceanography in New Zealand at the University of Otago through USC Study Abroad!
While at USC, I am a part of the USC Trojan Marching Band, an E-board member of AAEES (American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists), and an undergraduate research assistant at the USC Cnidarian Evolutionary Ecology Lab.
The rigor of the Alpha program has definitely prepared me for my time at USC. Being able to confidently write scientific papers, collect data, and present findings at a symposium during college is all due in part to my experiences in Alpha. Participating in science fair at the school and city level has helped me dive into undergraduate research, aiding graduate students in a lab on campus and being awarded a research fellowship with the National Science Foundation. I am grateful for my fellow Alpha peers and my teachers for always encouraging me to work hard and pursue my career goals.
Check out the USC New article below about Connie's experiences.