Detroit Inner City Students Participate in STEM Programming

WARRENDALE, Pa., July 16, 2012 - Today, the Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) kicks off in Detroit. The three-week program, co-created and managed through a partnership between SAE International and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), exposes inner city students to hands-on projects and a valuable career path. Over the past several weeks, more than 1,800 elementary and middle school students across the country became immersed in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as they participated in the SEEK program in San Diego, Calif., Oakland, Calif., Houston, Texas, New Orleans, La. and Washington D.C. (still in progress).

The Detroit program, made possible through funds from DOW, Delphi Foundation, Detroit Auto Dealers Association, TARDEC and FORD Fund, will take place at Bates Academy.  Students participating in the program will work on engineering projects such as gliders, gravity cruisers, and can crushers. On Friday of each week, the students will present their final projects and compete in a friendly competition.

“This engaging and educational program has shown a tremendous impact on the communities it reaches,” said Matt Miller, director, SAE Foundation and Pre-Professional Programs. “Students will become engineers as they work in teams, think through challenges and create projects. Many of these students are experiencing new opportunities that are helping to shape career paths in STEM fields.”

The SEEK program, led by NSBE engineering students and technical professionals, uses the SAE International’s National Science Board Award-winning curriculum, A World in Motion® (AWIM). AWIM allows students to work in teams to solve problems and create products while discovering the underlying math and science principles involved in the process. The program and curriculum are made possible through funds from major sponsors, like Caterpillar.

“College students from across the country will spend time with these students to become mentors for three weeks, but will make an impression on these kids that will last much longer,” said Dr. Carl Mack, executive director of NSBE. “These kids are seeing positive African American role models that are building bonds and investing time in each one of them. The mentors are helping to guide the next generation of aspiring engineers.”

About SAE Foundation
The SAE Foundation is the charitable arm of SAE International that strives to encourage and increase student participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering and math through educational programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™. SAE International is a global association of more than 133,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development.

About AWIM
SAE International's A World In Motion® (AWIM) is a teacher-administered, industry volunteer-assisted program that brings science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to life in the classroom for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Benchmarked to the national standards, AWIM incorporates the laws of physics, motion, flight and electronics into age-appropriate hands on activities that reinforce classroom STEM curriculum.

About NSBE
The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), founded in 1975, is the premier organization serving African Americans in engineering and technology. With more than 30,000 members and 300 chapters in the U.S. and abroad, NSBE supports and promotes the aspirations of college and pre-college students and technical professionals. NSBE’s mission is “to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professional and positively impact the community.”

- http://www.saefoundation.org -