The South Jersey Professionals Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, or NSBE-SJP, held its 2023 Annual Scholarship Luncheon at the Atlantic City Country Club on August 2.
Themed, “Empowering the Next Generation of STEM Innovators,” the NSBE-SJP welcomed keynote speaker, Cheryl White, Program Operations Field Manager at the FAA Atlanta ARTCC. She gave an inspirational speech using the example of running track. The students, the other young people, as well as the adults in attendance focused on her every word.
“It was a truly wonderful event that many people played a role in making come to fruition in such a successful manner,” said G. Kemet Uhuru, NSBE-SJP chapter president and senior engineer on the SWIM team (AJM-316) at the WJHTC. "Jensyl Guy and Sheila Franklin-Smallwood, our Scholarship and Luncheon Committee Chairs, were both instrumental in making the event all that it was."
Following White, Aviation Research Division Manager, Mike Paglione, spoke briefly, encouraging the students to pursue careers in aviation and STEM, and then invited them to come work at the Technical Center because the FAA mission of safety in the airways is never going away.
“Everybody – not just the recipient students – got to hear the guest speaker, Cheryl, and Mike,” said Uhuru. “There were several young people in the audience.”
The audience comprised more than 60 chapter members, guests, friends, scholarship recipients, and their families. Each of five outstanding students accepted a scholarship that will total $5,000 for their four-year undergraduate studies in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.
The WJHTC-based NSBE-SJP, chartered in the fall of 1989, offers guidance, mentorship, and professional development, especially for students interested in STEM-related careers. In 2015, it began offering scholarships to deserving South Jersey high school seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence in STEM disciplines and community service.
For several years, Uhuru has made the appeals for donations to the NSBE-SJP scholarship fund. He distributes letters requesting donations from possible donors, follows up with thank you letters, and handles all communication with benefactors and interested parties.
“We can’t have a scholarship luncheon without funding to give to the students,” said Uhuru, laughing. "We must work diligently to provide these students assistance. They hold our future in their hands. We are in good hands with these future leaders."
This year the NSBE-SJP raised a record amount of funds. That windfall permitted the organization to award each of the five students $1200 scholarship for the upcoming year, with a promissory of another $1267 per year for each student over the remaining three years.
“That’s a four-year commitment to each student,” said Uhuru. “We’re doing it that way to make sure they stay on course, remain a student in good standing, and pursue a STEM career at a university. Then, for the next three years the NSBE-SJP will make sure they get the additional money.”
The NSBE-SJP focuses its scholarship competition on high school seniors. The annual application process is updated and made available on the chapter website. Be sure to look for it again in 2024 for eligible high school seniors to apply.
“For us, it’s not just the student’s educational accomplishments,” said Uhuru. “It’s also about whether they were involved in a social aspect and giving back to the community.”
A committee of NSBE-SJP members considers candidate criteria and evaluates each applicant to determine who best earned a scholarship.
“The number of awards given out varies depending on the donations we get each year, so we never predetermine how many,” said Uhuru. “This year we had a strong response in terms of donations, so we were able to award $5,000 to each of the students. After all, every dollar counts!”
Since its chartering in 1989, the NSBE-SJP’s mission has advocated community service and promoted STEM careers among young people in the South Jersey community.
“We do more than just the luncheon,” said Uhuru. “We help mentor the kids. Our members' expertise helps students study and learn concepts. We work in conjunction with the AvSTEM program, and Carla Hill. We’ve been going strong for a long while.”
The following photographs capture the celebratory luncheon (courtesy of G. Kemet Uhuru).
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