Increasing Diversity In The Field Of Engineering (NAPSA)—By 2010, the U.S. needs to produce 250,000 minority engineers in order to create a diverse workforce that is representative of this country’s population. Over the past 30 years, The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Inc.—also known as NACME—hasprovided over $100 million to more than 18,000 minority engineering stu- dents at approximately 160 colleges and universities. The graduation rate of these scholars is 85 percent, more than double the national average for minority and nonminority students in engineering. Previous scholarship winners include individuals such as V.J. Turner, Jr., manager of global customer service within ExxonMobil’s Global Information Services Organization. A 22-year veteran of ExxonMo- bil, Turner was introduced to NACMEin 1976, when the organization awarded him a scholarship to attend Prairie View A&M University. Upon graduation, Turner continued his education by pursuing a master of science in electrical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Turner was awarded the University of Texas Texas-Ex Distinguished African American in Engineering 1997. He was named one of the organization’s distinguished alumni in 1996. One of the current scholars is Connie Gomez, a graduate student/research assistant at Drexel University. Gomez, from Houston, Texas, wants to pursue a career in engineering. She credits the program with Since 1974, one organization has provided scholarship assistance to more than 18,000 minority engineering students. providing the financial support that makesit possible for her to focus on her studies and the network and tools she and the other students in the program need to succeed. “NACME,” said Gomez, “is more than just the people and sponsors. Its strength lies in the commitment of the students and the alumni to the success of the other students in the program.” In addition to undergraduate scholarships, the organization also has programs in place for precollege students interested in engineering—such as GuideMeNACME.org, a Website for precollege students and their parents. Manyof the nation’s precollege math and science programs have been developed with the organization’s assistance. Over the years, support for its efforts has comefrom institutions, such as the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and corporations, such as ExxonMobil. To learn more, visit www.nacme.org.
