On March 22, 2018, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) was awarded Southeastern Region III Chapter of the Year. This region encompasses five states and the Bahamas. Representing the college, 56 NSBE chapter members attended the 44th annual convention in Pittsburgh. This is the first time since 2006 the chapter has won the award.
Chapters in the national competition were critiqued based on professional development activities, their involvement locally in NSBE Jr. and technical outreach and reporting accomplishments.
Cyrina Thomas, chapter president and senior chemical and biomedical engineering student from Aurora, Colorado points to the comradery between members of NSBE and credits this closeness for part of their success.
She says that as president it is rewarding to realize that all of her hard work, dedication and long hours were spent meaningfully as she observes underclassmen who benefit.
Zaran Smith, a third-year mechanical engineering student from Atlanta who serves as finance chair, was delighted to share his excitement about realizing the time and effort invested in this organization has not been in vain.
Kory Tally, a third-year electrical engineering major from Montgomery, Alabama who serves as membership chair says NSBE, “gives the opportunity to be a part of corporate America and experience leadership, in hopes the networking will segue into corporate jobs.”
In the spring 2018 semester alone, NSBE has eight seniors with job offers from Intel, Lockheed Martin, John Deere and UTC.
Members relate Thomas’ term as president as empowering and a period of investing in the lives of chapter members, nonmembers and the college’s student body at large.
NSBE’s national mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers, who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. Corporate partners such as Northrup Grumman and Intel are particularly beneficial to this mission at the college level, investing in NSBE students in multiple ways.
The Northrop Grumman Foundation created the Northrop Grumman/NSBE Integrated Pipeline Scholars Program, which partners with Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T and Howard universities to provide internship and professional development opportunities to students that may not normally have access to these vital connections.
The first and second cohort of these scholars were honored during a reception at the annual convention. Both the CEO of North Grumman, Wesley G. Bush, and President of Northrop Grumman Foundation, Sandra Evers-Manly, were in attendance to engage with students. FAMU-FSU Engineering Director of Student Access, Dr. Charmane Caldwell, was invited to present on ways the Florida A&M University (FAMU) uses these funds to support the Engineering Living Learning Community (LLC).
“I think it is amazing that out of the 47 Northrup Grumman/NSBE scholars that 19 (40 percent) are FAMU students,” Caldwell stated. “That speaks volumes about the caliber of students we have and how our student support programs—the Engineering Concepts Institute and Engineering LLC—are preparing our students to compete on a national level.”
The Intel Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Scholars were also celebrated during the conference, attending as guests of the Intel Corp., each with a full travel award to attend the conference. These students participated in several workshops such as “Internet of Things: Answering the world’s problems by driving innovation that’s smart and connected” and other events hosted by Intel. Through this experience, the students increased their professional development and networking skills.
The Intel HBCU ECE Scholars program is a prestigious award program that is designed to provide resources and support for minority students matriculating at FAMU in electrical engineering or computer engineering. Intel ECE Scholars receive an annual stipend to help support their matriculation in a degree program; a research award to conduct high-quality research with a faculty mentor and professional development activities as well as an ECE ambassador, plus special invitations to Intel-sponsored on-campus activities.
The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is proud to support the 97 members of this dynamic group of NSBE students who are working toward eliminating disparities in education and achievement in engineering as they evolve into stellar and exemplary professionals.