MIT Spokes 2026

At Spokes, our mission is to share knowledge and passion for math, science, technology, engineering, and the humanities with young students across the United States—all while biking 4,000 miles across 75 days! Our team is made up of 7 MIT students from around the country who bring diverse skill sets and passions to the Institute, coming together to expand the accessibility of STEM education and empower the leaders of tomorrow.

• Aarushi Mehrotra ‘26, Course 20 (Biological Engineering) and Course 6-3 (Computer Science and Engineering)
• Carmen McCay ‘29, Course 10B (Chemical-Biological Engineering)
• Caroline Huang ‘29, Course 11-6 (Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science)
• Drew Dowdy ‘29, Course 16 (Aerospace Engineering)
• Nathan Mustafa ‘25 ‘26, Course 6-3 (Computer Science and Engineering) and Course 18 (Mathematics)
• Angelica (Nunu) Zhuang ‘26, Course 4 (Architecture)
• Tatiana Vassiliev ‘26, Course 6-2 (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) and Course 15-3 (Finance)

The central goal of MIT Spokes is to bridge the gap in STEM education and empowerment among rural, low-income, and underserved communities across the country. Unfortunately, rural communities are often left behind in terms of education quality and schools may also lack the funding to provide experiential learning and develop engaging activities for students. MIT Spokes strives to address the lack of engaging educational opportunities for these students, as well as incarcerated youth. Students in juvenile detention receive significantly less instructional time than other students in the United States, and courses are often limited in scope and complexity. The creativity and dynamism of experiential learning are not prioritized within these educational systems.

We also want to be the example that engineers and scientists can be athletic too. By biking 4,000 miles in 75 days from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, we are breaking the stereotype of the shut-in, sedentary academic. We’re also stepping out of our own comfort zones, physically and mentally. And...how many people can say they’ve biked across the United States of America?  

Considering the national scope of our mission, we need the support of our community to properly give back to students in need. 

MIT Spokes aims to bring these academic opportunities through learning festivals and all-day events including hands-on STEM workshops taught by Spokes members. Inspired by MIT’s hands-on approach to education, we create STEM curricula that complement those of our K–12 host schools. We teach these workshops to schools, churches, libraries, juvenile detention centers, and summer camps across the United States. Along the way, we establish strong connections with communities, students, and host families.

MIT Spokes 2026 Donation Tiers

Summit Donor, Presenting Diamond Tier: $10,000+

Exclusive top-tier partnership.

• Recognition as “MIT Spokes 2026 Presented by [Donor Name]”

• Large-sized logo placement on team jerseys

• Verbal acknowledgment at all public events, school visits, and media interactions

• Personalized video and multiple donor-specific social media acknowledgments

• Name or logo listed on the MIT Spokes website homepage

Crosswinds Donor, Gold Tier: $5,000

• Medium-sized logo placement on team jerseys

• Option to sponsor a specific Learning Festival stop, region, or state

• Thank you card and individual social media acknowledgment

• Name or logo listed on the MIT Spokes website donor page

Tailwind Donor, Silver Tier: $2,500

• Small-sized logo placement on team jerseys

• Option to sponsor a full day of STEM instruction 

• Individual social media acknowledgment

• Name or logo listed on the MIT Spokes website donor page

First Mile Donor, Bronze Tier: $1,000

• Option to sponsor a specific workshop or lesson module 

• Group social media acknowledgment

• Name or logo listed on the MIT Spokes website donor page

Trailhead Donor, Community Donor: $500

• Inclusion in donor thank-you social media post

• Name or logo listed on the MIT Spokes website donor page