Break systemic barriers by engineering a brighter future for underserved and underrepresented communities.
Kairon Watkins grew up in a low-income household where financial hardship, racial stereotyping, and systemic neglect were part of daily life, yet his father’s unwavering belief in resilience and self-determination planted the seeds for a different path. Inspired by hands-on problem solving with his dad and a drive to dismantle generational cycles of struggle, he pursued engineering as a tool for liberation founding the Jr. Engineering Program to introduce STEM to underrepresented youth and co-developing EZInsulation, a sustainable solution to energy burdens in marginalized communities. Kairon envisions communities empowered by innovation, equity, and sustainability, driven by youth who dare to rewrite the rules. By studying mechanical engineering, he plans to design long-lasting solutions that challenge injustice and build opportunity from the ground up.
Leadership:
- Jr. Engineering Program, Founder
- ConnectTech Program, Founder
- MITES Semester ’24 Scholar
