NACME to commemorate 35-year anniversary, honor supporters and partners
Celebrates legacy of increasing representation of underrepresented minority students in engineering education and careers
(NEW YORK) – The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) will host a premier event celebrating its 35-year legacy of leadership and support in the career development of underrepresented minorities in engineering, Tues., September 29, 2009 at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York.
As NACME’s largest fundraiser, the dinner is expected to raise more than $4 million that will go directly toward providing scholarship support for African American men, American Indian and Latino students in engineering.
This year’s theme, Changing Lives, Changing America, speaks to NACME’s dual role of changing lives through involvement in K-12 and higher education, and its ability to change America through its leadership and policy advocacy to produce a graduating engineering class that looks like America.
The NACME 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Celebration will also honor NACME and partners who have demonstrated significant commitment and dedication to increasing the representation of underrepresented minority students in engineering careers.
NACME’s honorees are:
- Merck, Inc. – Corporate Citizenship Award
- New Jersey Institute of Technology—University Rising Star Award
- Dr. Herb Schroeder (University of Alaska)– Reginald Jones Award
- Dr. Ted Greenwood (Sloan Foundation) – Diversity Vision Award
- Dr. Darryll Pines (University of Maryland, College Park) – Alumni Circle Award
- Dr. John Brooks Slaughter (Outgoing CEO and president) – Special Honoree/NACME Board Award
“This is an exciting time for NACME,” said Dr. Irving Pressley McPhail, NACME president & CEO. “It is not only a time for rejoicing, but, also, a time for renewing our commitment to service. Not only are we celebrating a milestone in our history of providing support to underrepresented minority youth, we are also a experiencing a transition in leadership.”
McPhail was recently named NACME’s sixth President and CEO, replacing Dr. John Brooks Slaughter, who retired August 31.
More than 500 engineering industry leaders, educators and partners are slated to attend. Featured entertainment includes The Constant Family Trio and a special appearance by Bill Cosby. Two raffle contests will also be held featuring such prizes as one 52” Toshiba LCD TV, one 37” Sony LCD TV, one Bose Acoustic Wave Music System II and three specialty wine baskets.
Event sponsors include Bristol Myers Squibb, IBM, Marathon Oil Company, Merck & Co., Inc., and Northrop Grumman Corporation. (A complete list of sponsors is available online.)
The NACME 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner and Celebration takes place Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 6:30 p.m.– Midnight at the Waldorf=Astoria, located at 301 Park Avenue in New York City. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit www.nacme.org/dinner or call 914.539.4010.