On July 7th, 2025, twenty-nine high school students from all across the San Francisco Bay Area embarked on a unique journey that helped them see a variety of possibilities for their future as they explored university life and the transformative power of careers in mobility.

Since 2006, MTI’s annual summer program has given hundreds of 9th-12th grade students the opportunity to explore the transportation industry and its impact on their own communities and the chance to try on an immersive non-resident college experience at San Jose State University. The program engages youth with exciting hands-on learning opportunities where they learn about mobility-focused careers and hone skills that will support them in their academic (and eventually their professional) journeys. This year’s Mineta Summer Transportation Academy (MiSTA) is a part of CRISI: Promoting Railroading Careers and Developing the Current Rail Industry Workforce, FRA-funded project led by the Center for Urban Transportation Research at University of South Florida to revitalize the railroad industry workforce.

In late 2024, MTI’s flagship high school program rebranded with help from San José State University’s Graphic Design BFA seniors. With MTI’s $1,000 sponsorship of the program’s BFA Senior Show, a team of design students worked on a real-world client project: creating a fresh vibrant visual identity for MiSTA. They created a new logo, t-shirt, flyer, and social media graphics—all designed with accessibility, user experience, and visual clarity in mind. The new identity for MiSTA captures what the program is about (learning and mobility!) in effective eye-catching visuals, helping better represent the program and attract new participants.

This year’s participants began their journey with a field trip touring the SJSU campus, a guest lecture from MTI Research Associate Dr. William (Billy) Riggs on AI in transportation, and field trips to the Behavior, Accessibility, and Technology (BAT) Lab, GoMentum Station, Diridon Station, and the Spartan Racing shops—all in the first week! At the BAT Lab, Dr. Gaojian Huang and Dr. Yue Luo showcased pioneering research on human-machine interaction, accessibility, and automated vehicles to the delight of program participants. At the GoMentum Station field trip, hosted by our partners at Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), MiSTA students experienced firsthand how autonomous technology is developed, tested, and deployed to enhance safety and accessibility in transportation. They even took a ride in May Mobility’s PRESTO shuttle and designed their own AV test scenarios during a hands-on session with CCTA. Students also took part in the most-talked-about activities of the summer: a geographic information science presentation & drone flying activity with UC Santa Cruz’s Dr. Bo Yang.

Other highlights from this year include visits to San Jose International Airport, the San Jose Department of Transportation (SJDOT) at City Hall and the Transportation Incident Management Center (TiMC), the offices of infrastructure design firm HNTB, the bus yard of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Glydways in Richmond, and more. The students also heard from Daniel Heine from the German rail operator Deustche Bahn and California High-Speed Rail Authority PIO Augie Blancas, who took them on a tour of an active HSR construction site in Fresno. After they heard about safety, policy, and construction issues, the students climbed up the Cedar Viaduct, which spans more than 3,700 feet in length and more than 40 feet in width. This moment, like many others during the summer program, are truly once-in-a-lifetime behind-the-scenes experiences. “If we want the next generation to focus on transportation, we need to make it something they can get excited about,” says MTI Deputy Executive Director Hilary Nixon, who led the delivery of the program.

Throughout the program, the participants heard from esteemed guests such as Rod Diridon, Sr. and Dr. Karen Philbrick, who spoke on their areas of expertise and offered personalized advice and mentoring, as well as inspiration. Rod, the Retired Founding Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute, is often called the “father of modern transit in Silicon Valley.” Sharing stories from his decades of public service, he detailed how he helped bring light rail to the region and supported the passage of California’s first transit sales tax. He spoke about his time chairing the California High-Speed Rail Authority and shared insights on building a career in transportation with resilience and purpose. Dr. Karen Philbrick, MTI’s current Executive Director, spoke about leading the institute today, emphasizing the importance of driving growth with safety and innovation always at the forefront. She invited students to consider their roles in their communities and what part they might take in the future of transportation.

MiSTA participant Angelina Cider said she learned from these lectures to be aware of and grab onto any opportunity that presents itself. “I learned…opportunities come from unexpected places,” she said, Dr. Philbrick’s lecture. Similarly, participant Lucas Wu said, “One of my key takeaways from this whole program is to always say ‘yes’ to opportunity. I feel like many people in society these days are scared to take their moment when it’s given to them, but you never know what these little moments can lead to.”

As the two-week journey wrapped up, students gathered for the program graduation, connecting over shared sentiments about the impact of MiSTA on their summer and their potential futures. Participant David Rabinovich spoke of what resonated most with him, “The most impactful thing for me was just meeting all the guest speakers and professionals. Learning a lot and making connections—not only with the speakers but with all of [my fellow participants].” This program continues to build opportunities and connections for these students. David will be meeting with Rod Diridon next month to continue and build upon this professional mentorship.

MiSTA is more than a summer program for these high schoolers—it is a path laid forward in the right direction. Over two weeks, students stepped into university life, explored cutting-edge technologies, connected with industry leaders, and discovered that transportation is not just about getting from point A to point B—it’s about shaping the future of communities, the environment, and the world. Whether they go on to design sustainable transit systems, lead policy changes, or engineer the next generation of mobility solutions, MiSTA alum will carry forward the skills, networks, and confidence they gained this summer—ready to seize opportunities and help move the world forward. Participant Arlene Bui summed up the 2025 experience when she said, “Surrounded by all these inspirational leaders and my peers, and even though we all come from different backgrounds, we are all similar in that we share one common goal: connection.” That is what transportation is all about.

Thank you to our sponsors and partners!

MTI extends our heartfelt thanks to this year’s incredible sponsors and partners, whose support made the 2025 Mineta Summer Transportation Academy possible.

Our sponsors helped bring MiSTA’s hands-on learning experiences to life, including our presenting sponsors: ACE & San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. The program received generous support from the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business; DB E.C.O. North America Inc., who sponsored the high-speed rail construction field trip; HNTB, who hosted students for an engaging office visit; and Fehr & Peers, who led a San Jose downtown walking tour and Streetmix activity.

We are equally grateful to the many partners whose expertise, time, and enthusiasm helped shape the MiSTA journey at every turn. From labs and lecture halls to transit centers and airport runways, students gained rare behind-the-scenes access thanks to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) San José Younger Member Forum, the Behavior, Accessibility, and Technology (BAT) Lab, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, Glydways, the San José Department of Transportation, the San José Mineta International Airport, Spartan Racing, and more. Each stop on the itinerary added a new perspective, helping students see the breadth of careers and innovations that make up today’s transportation industry.

Among these experiences, some traditions stood out. For more than a decade, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has opened its doors to our students, offering a close look at transit operations and introducing them to the front-line workers who keep the region moving. The Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at SJSU also played a special role, extending its longstanding impact in the Bay Area to MiSTA students. The College welcomed participants onto campus as they tried on college life and the possibilities of the transportation industry.

With every year, our partners and sponsors expand our program’s reach and impact—opening doors to new ideas, career paths, and the future of mobility for young people in our communities. We can’t wait to see where these partnerships take us next year!

MiSTA Alumni: Where are they now?