Students in the two-week program will get instruction and also wrap-around services, such as college application workshops, and writing workshops, mentored by U-M students, professional engineers, and U-M alumni.

Located at the U-M Detroit Center on Woodward Avenue, MEZ mainly offers space, help and machine tools to young people who want to take part in the national FIRST Robotics competition, but whose schools don’t have the resources to help them on their own.

Valerie and Tony Russell are rolling. On a 90-degree day in late May, their SUV cruises the streets of Detroit’s Osborn neighborhood, their home.

More Detroit-area high school students will have access to expanded hands-on science and engineering after-school programs, thanks to a $250,000 Google grant to the Midtown makerspace known as the Michigan Engineering Zone.