Alcoa Foundation $50,000 Grant Supports the National Society of Black Engineers′ SEEK Academy
Summer Engineering Experience for Kids Educates Students Through
Hands on Projects
During the annual National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) convention,
Alcoa Foundation announced a $50,000 contribution to the 2013 ?Summer
Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) Academy, a program developed by
NSBE in 2007. The SEEK Program is designed to be a fun and engaging
educational experience to raise the interest of underrepresented
minority students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
It is led by engineering students and technical professionals dedicated
to pursuing professional excellence and giving back to the community.
This is the second year Alcoa Foundation is supporting the program.
The SEEK program, aimed at grades K?12, is an important step for
students toward careers in engineering. Alcoa Foundation′s grant will
fund stipends for 50 collegiate members of NSBE who will serve as 'SEEK
mentors? in five states this summer: California, Colorado, Louisiana,
Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Texas and Washington, DC. The goal is
to educate and inspire 300 students.
SEEK offers a diverse, hands-on engineering design curriculum that
continues to expand annually. This year, participants will have an
opportunity to 'go green? by designing and testing miniature cars during
a Solar Car Activity. The SEEK students, in the 3rd to 8th grades this
year, learn science and engineering concepts and engage in team
competitions during the academy′s free three-week summer day camps. The
elementary school and middle school students are guided and taught by
the SEEK mentors. The mentors are students at the University of
Michigan, North Carolina A&T State University, The Ohio State
University, Purdue University, and the University of Tennessee.
'We need to prepare young people for jobs that are available now and in
sectors that are growing, like Advanced Manufacturing,? said Paula
Davis, President, Alcoa Foundation. 'Together with NSBE, we promote STEM
education among K-12 students and educate them about how they can apply
their skills to launch exciting careers in manufacturing.?
'Now in the second year of our partnership, we are excited that Alcoa
Foundation has taken an expanded role in supporting our NSBE collegiate
members who participate in SEEK nationally,? said NSBE SEEK Director
Franklin O. Moore. 'With the additional support, NSBE can engage more
student mentors over the summer at SEEK camps.?
For more information about the SEEK Academy, contact NSBE′s Programs
Team by e-mail at ?seek@nsbe.org,
or visit www.nsbe.org.
About Alcoa Foundation
Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the
U.S., with assets of approximately US$460 million. Founded 60 years ago,
Alcoa Foundation has invested more than US$570 million since 1952. In
2012, Alcoa Foundation contributed more than US$21 million to nonprofit
organizations throughout the world, building innovative partnerships to
improve the environment and educate tomorrow′s leaders for careers in
manufacturing and engineering. The work of Alcoa Foundation is further
enhanced by Alcoa′s thousands of employee volunteers who share their
talents and time to make a difference in the communities where Alcoa
operates. Through the Company′s signature Month of Service program, in
2012, a record 60 percent of Alcoa employees took part in more than
1,050 events across 24 countries, benefiting more than 450,000 people
and 2,050 nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit ?www.alcoafoundation.com ?and
follow @AlcoaFoundation on ?Twitter.
ABOUT NSBE
With nearly 30,000 members, the National Society of Black Engineers
(NSBE) is one of the largest student-governed organizations in the
country. A not-for-profit founded in 1975, NSBE now includes more
than ?310 collegiate, pre-collegiate and technical professional/Alumni
chapters in the U.S. and abroad. NSBE′s mission is 'to increase the
number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically,
succeed professionally and positively impact the community.?
Alcoa Foundation
Suzanne van de Raadt, Communications Manager,
646-404-4027
Suzanne.vanderaadt@alcoa.com
