Alcoa Foundation Awards Grant For The National Society Of Black Engineers To Support Summer Engineering Program For Minority Youth

Alcoa Foundation awarded $25,000 to the 2012 Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK), a program developed by the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) in 2007. SEEK is designed to raise the interest of underrepresented minority students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in grades K–12, as an important step towards careers in engineering. Alcoa Foundation’s grant will fund the SEEK program in Washington, D.C., and San Diego, California.

“For Alcoa Foundation, reaching out to the next generation of engineers starts with programs that engage young minds in creative programs,” said Paula Davis, President, Alcoa Foundation. “As these students continue their studies, they will become part of a STEM-capable workforce that is in high demand.”

SEEK offers a hands-on engineering design curriculum provided by NSBE’s partner in the program, SAE International (the Society of Automotive Engineers). The SEEK students, in the third to eighth grades this year, learn basic science and engineering concepts and engage in team competitions during the three-week summer day camps. The elementary school and middle school students are guided and taught by “SEEK mentors,” who are NSBE collegiate members.

“As a member of NSBE’s Board of Corporate Affiliates, our top-level sponsors, Alcoa has shown a long-term commitment to supporting our 30,000 members,” said NSBE Executive Director Carl B. Mack. “This generous gift to SEEK shows that Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation are committed to growing as well as supporting young engineers, by funding our efforts on the elementary and middle school levels.”

For more information about the SEEK program, contact NSBE’s Programs Team by e-mail at [e-mail], or visit www.nsbe.org.

About Alcoa Foundation

Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately US$446 million. Founded more than 50 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than US$550 million since 1952. In 2011, Alcoa Foundation contributed more than US$20 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, building innovative partnerships, engaging its people to improve the environment and educating tomorrow’s leaders. The work of Alcoa Foundation is further enhanced by Alcoa’s thousands of employee volunteers who share their energy, passion and purpose to make a difference in the communities where Alcoa operates. Through the company’s signature Month of Service program, in 2011, a record 56 percent of Alcoa employees took part in more than 1,200 events across 24 countries, reaching 81,000 children, serving 9,000 meals, planting 34,000 trees and supporting 1,800 nonprofit organizations. More information can be found at www.alcoafoundation.com.

ABOUT NSBE

With nearly 30,000 members, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is one of the largest student-governed organizations in the country. A not-for-profit founded in 1975, NSBE now includes more than 310 collegiate, pre-collegiate and technical professional/Alumni chapters in the U.S. and abroad. NSBE’s mission is “to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.”

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