Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science recently awarded 22 four-year scholarships to qualified SECME students majoring in one of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines at participating high schools in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

Participants were honored at a Celebration of Achievement banquet sponsored by  industry partners that included students, parents, teachers, school administrators, industry representatives and guest speaker, Ivan Yaeger of the Yaeger Foundation, Inc.  Karl K. Stevens, dean of the College, also was honored with the Champion Wings award for his work and support of the SECME programs.

SECME students selected for the 2009-10 academic-year award receive $3,000 per year. Students must meet the academic requirements for admission into FAU and have participated in the SECME program in their high school.

A highly-effective industry partnership made up of county leaders, industry representatives and school district representatives convenes monthly to plan for the support, development, training and expansion of the program.  This group is known as the South Florida Industry Partners for Education.

Brenda Simmons, director of FAU’s Division of Engineering Student Services, serves as the SECME director for FAU and chairs the SECME Industry Advisory Board.  “It is very rewarding for me to work with the South Florida Industry Partners for Education, Broward County and Palm Beach Public Schools to increase the pool of talented students prepared to enter and succeed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Simmons. “The SECME program offers exceptional opportunities for K-12 students to learn, achieve, and become excited about engineering and science based careers.”

SECME is a pre-collegiate program whose mission is to increase the number of under-represented minority students qualified to enter and complete courses of study in the STEM disciplines. Since its inception in 1975, the SECME program has helped to increase the number of minority engineers, scientists and mathematicians by enriching students’ academic preparation from grades K-12 while providing experiences to help raise their levels of aspiration. Teacher training is a significant piece of the equation in order for the program to succeed.  It is a coordinated effort with 37 universities, 70 corporations and governmental agencies in 15 states, as well as the District of Columbia.  FAU became an official SECME university during the 1986-87 academic year.


Source:  FAU Media Relations

Rick said

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science recently awarded 22 four-year scholarships to qualified SECME students majoring in one of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines at participating high schools in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

The news was also saying that the College was losing 5 tenured professors… which sucks. Tenured professorship is supposed to be guaranteed employment.

But these are tough times, right? Well, I was reading somewhere else that the reason we're so top heavy with administrators is this stupid distributed campus system. They may not be too far off on that one…