About This Blog

Photo taken in the early evening looking out over the ocean from Orchard Bay, Belize. The sky is a muted mix of gray, soft pinks, and purples. A long pier with a lookout stretchest out into the ocean. The tops of bushes show in the foreground.

This spring, Teresa VanderSloot, Director of Broadening Participation K12 Women in Engineering Recruitment and Outreach at Michigan State University (MSU), and I were honored to lead a team of four Computer Science majors—Sania and Sanaye, both recent graduates, and Joshua and Benjamin, both rising seniors—on a week-long educational adventure in Belize.

Our goal? Introduce students in 1st through 5th forms (the equivalent of 9th grade through a first year in higher-ed) to the power of physical computing and how they can use it to solve real-world problems in their communities. A dedicated team at PathLight International Belize (PLB)—a nonprofit committed to empowering Belizean youth through education—hosted our visit, facilitating a vibrant exchange of knowledge, creativity, and culture.

This blog chronicles our journey—one filled with hands-on learning, meaningful connections, and unforgettable moments—as we worked together to spark curiosity and confidence in the next generation of Belizean problem solvers. It is written by the full MSU team: Sania, Sanaye, Joshua, Benjamin, Teresa and I.

This experience would not have been possible without the generous support of the IEEE Computer Society and contributions from both MSU and PLB. We cannot thank them enough!

Laura Dillon
Professor Emeritus
Computer Science & Engineering
Michigan State University


Logo for PathLight Belize - a white starburst superimposed on a yellow circle







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