Twenty-one students from University of New Mexico's (UNM) Saturday Math & Science Academy attended the Fall Regional Conference of the National Society of Black Engineers Pre-College Initiative (NSBE-PCI) Regional Conference, where they distinguished themselves in Design & Engineering (Robotics), Try-Math-A-Lon, Science and the Halo Three Tournament. The conference was held at the 600 acre Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, Washington, where host and Microsoft chairman, Mr. Bill Gates, was the featured speaker at the opening session. Region Six consists of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, California, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Washington, Nevada, Oregon, and Montana.
The Design and Engineering team once again earned the right to represent Region Six at the Annual NSBE International Conference in the spring. The team that designed and built the NXT Lego Mind Storm Robot include: Marki Clinton, Emily Todd, Monica Lovato, Phillip Palmer, Jessica Dawson, Ra'id Muhammad and Charnel Garcia. For the past three years, the Saturday Math & Science Academy robotics teams have won this competition. Even in instances when more than one team has represented the Academy, they have always taken the top spots at the Regional Conferences usually held in California. Coaches for the Design and Engineering team at the Academy are Dr. Koby Davis of Sandia Lab, and UNM students Patrick Allen, Nicole Batey, Paul Palmer and Andi Eskeets.
Sapphyre McDaniels, Wynton El, Lenda Bentley, Jakia Fuller, Jaylan Fuller and Karis Wash, comprise the team which took second place in the Try-Math-A-Lon competition. There are three components to this competition: the individual math test, group physics and engineering problem solving, and a Jeopardy-style section which includes questions on Black History and the NSBE organization and structure. Mr. Olumuyiwa Oluwasanmi, a PHD candidate at UNM, and Mrs. Liz Schexnayder, NSBE alum and Mechanical Engineer at Sandia Labs, are the coaches for this team.
There were three entrants in the Science Project category, and they all won awards. Jalissa Hunt enlisted the help of a registered nurse to research the Keytone levels of people in her community. Alexis Hill explored the effectiveness of a solar powered oven compared to the ‘regular' oven and their effects on plexus glass and saran wrap. Wynton El did his project on Solar Energy to find out if the flow-rate of water through a collector affects the temperature of the water in a solar collector.
The winning teams, along with team alternates Nadine Nichols, Frankie Austin and Jared Fuller will be rewarded with all expenses paid trips to The NSBE International Conference in Orlando, Florida, March 19 to 23, 2008. However, one winner at the Washington conference took his prize home with him. Sam Hopkins got a brand new X-Box with all the latest games when he won the Halo Tournament sponsored by Microsoft. Sam is a UNM student and Saturday Math and Science Academy alum turned volunteer.
For the past 10 years, in addition to Sam, Program Director Debra Johns has depended heavily on a variety of professionals and UNM student volunteers to make this program the tremendous success that it is. Several parents also provide tremendous help and support in addition to be chaperones on the out of state trips. They include: Lamont & Dalphine Austin, Lynn & Marcia Bentley, Mark & Barbara Clinton, Ms. Robin Hill, Mrs. Andrea Hunte and Ms. Regina Schells.
Students who attend the Saturday Math and Science Academy meet weekly in the Mechanical Engineering Building on the UNM campus. The goal for most of them is to enter science related fields, engineering or technology. Many former students continue to maintain their relationship with the Academy as well as their NSBE memberships well into their careers and return whenever possible to volunteer as coaches and mentors.
Because of the way NSBE is structured, it is easy for students to make the transition from PCI to Collegiate to Professional membership. One good example is Dr. Randall Pinkett. Dr. Pinkett who won Donald Trump's popular reality show The Apprentice in 2005 made his transition in the program and is still, today, a big supporter of NSBE. The National Society of Black Engineers Pre-College Initiative is an outstanding program designed to provide support for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the sciences.
Through the NSBE-PCI youngsters gain unparalleled exposure and hands on experience with, the latest technology. In addition, and just as important, they are being mentored by Black professionals who are making unheralded contributions in the fields of math, science and design & engineering. The NSBE program encourages high schoolers to attend college and conducts several workshops to assist with the application process.
For college graduates who are thinking of graduate school, there are also NSBE programs to help them achieve their goal. NSBE conferences also provide professional networking opportunities, career enhancing workshops and job fairs during regional and international conferences for those entering the job market or seeking to make career changes.
For more information on Saturday Math and Science Academy and the NSBE Pre-College Initiative Program, contact Debra Johns at 220-8055.