Preston Kite

Alum Gliding through Challenging Science and Engineering Programs

College can be overwhelming for any freshman, but even more so for those entering specialized technical programs.

Fortunately, Prep alum Preston Kite ’20 breezed through his first year at New Mexico Tech and continues to succeed, thanks to the preparation he received at Sandia Prep.

Preston, who’s studying a combined bachelor’s and master's in Computer Science and Engineering, says he’s grateful for the groundwork he laid at Prep.

“New Mexico Tech can be a difficult time for freshmen, because the introduction classes are rigorous,” Preston explains. “Sandia Prep gave me a solid foundation to be able to handle many of these courses.”

For instance, physics teacher Amy James and biology teacher Ernie Polansky “covered many topics relevant to Chemistry 1 and 2 at Tech,” he says. 

Additionally, Prep allowed Preston to take independent studies, such as Calculus 3 and Programming 3, to give him a jumpstart on college curriculum. “The teachers at Sandia Prep truly care about the academic success of students and have made my college experience a lot easier,” he says.

At Tech, Preston is president of the eSports Club, was Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Student Government Association (SGA) in 2021-2022, and is a member of the Waffle Club, which involves hanging out at midnight every Saturday and eating … waffles. “It’s been a long tradition at Tech,” Preston says. 

He’s also participated in various volunteer opportunities in Socorro, including setting up and running art fairs at a nearby elementary school, helping run Tech’s annual golf tournament fundraiser, and setting up eSports booths at events “so that people in Socorro are more aware of the opportunities in the sport,” he explains.

In his role as CFO for Tech’s student government association, Preston managed approximately $250,000 for the university’s clubs and organizations.

As eSports president, he organizes various eSports teams and events under the Athletic Department. “Our eSports teams are competitive with colleges 15 times our size,” he says.

That “small but mighty” school spirit is something that Preston enjoyed during his time at Prep. Whether at athletic events or when he gave a speech in front of thousands of people in his bid for State Student Government vice president, “I enjoyed the experiences where Sandia Prep competed in activities with schools many times our size.”