The gift of time
Through support for the M-Engin program, alum Martin E. Chavez hopes to provide space for students to experience all that U-M has to offer.
Between classes, labs, work, studying, teams and friends, it can be almost impossible for students to find time to think critically about their future career options. But during a time as formative as college, thoughtfully exploring different industries and jobs is crucial. That exploration takes time—a precious commodity. With a recent gift to the M-Engin program, Martin E. Chavez (BS EE, ’93) hopes to help undergraduate students gain exactly that.
M-Engin provides comprehensive support to incoming first-year undergraduates, beginning with a five-week summer program to help with the transition to college and establish a strong peer support community. Throughout a student’s first two years on campus, M-Engin gives students access to customized advising, career guidance, learning enrichment activities and assistance in obtaining a paid professional summer internship or research opportunity. Students also receive financial support, freeing up time that might otherwise be spent at a job (or a second or third job) so they can take advantage of the program’s services.
Lute Smith joined the M-Engin program as an undergraduate student looking to connect with others interested in engineering and science. Now a first-year graduate student pursuing an MSE in environmental engineering, he credits M-Engin with setting him up for success.
New cohort of M-Engin students at a social mixer with M-Engin alums
M-Engin students working on a Legos project management activity at Tecnun University in San Sebastian, Spain
M-Engin students working on a Legos project management activity at Tecnun University in San Sebastian, Spain
M-Engin students working on a Legos project management activity at Tecnun University in San Sebastian, Spain
A 1st year cohort from a tour of Tekna in Kalamazoo
M-Engin students participating in a Community Service project for the Prisoner Creative Arts project.
From the Shanghai trip that quoted M-Engin alum Lute Smith referred to (he is 3rd from the left)
The Shanghai trip was a Spring Break mini-study abroad experience organized by International Programs in Engineering (IPE) for M-Engin students. It is designed to help students develop and improve upon their intercultural skills and become more comfortable with international travel. The purpose of this particular trip was to learn about and explore how sustainability can be integrated into cities to improve people’s quality of life. Students explored the city of Shanghai and learned about its various sustainability initiatives.
“M-Engin has been a fantastic support system for me throughout my time at the University of Michigan,” said Smith. “Even after my freshman year, M-Engin continued to be a support by helping me secure funding for two summer internship opportunities.”
Chavez, now the co-founder and managing partner of private equity firm NMS Capital, understands the transformative power of support—because he received it himself. As an undergraduate, he benefitted from an earlier program similar to M-Engin during his time on campus.
“The financial support provided that extra leg of the stool,” Chavez recalled. “It allowed me to focus not just on academics and work-study, but also on leadership, mentorship and all the other things that make Michigan special. It made me a better, more well-rounded individual than if I had had to only study and work.”
Now, he’s paying it forward. With his gift, Chavez hopes to help today’s students find the time to take advantage of the full college experience and explore all of the doors an engineering degree can open.
“It’s not just about relieving financial needs as a student—it’s about giving them the time and space to grow into who they’re meant to be,” Chavez said. “College is an enormous personal time investment during very formative years. If I can be the catalyst to provide students with the flexibility and space to really digest that experience, then the gift has already done what it was meant to do.”