Our guest post today comes from Melvin Freeman, Jr., PCI Chair of Columbia University’s chapter of The National Society of Black Engineers, whose national nonprofit mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

Columbia University’s National Society of Black Engineers chapter has made valiant strides in their Pre-College Initiative (PCI) Program, designed to stimulate the interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (STEM) in students grades K-12. Our goal is to encourage students to attend college and pursue technical degrees by providing activities to help them discover firsthand how engineering and technology relate to the world around them, while engaging in the excitement of academic excellence, leadership, technical development and teamwork.

Because NSBE serves both local and international chapters, last year through
Facebook and Skype, we were able to provide students of the Ghana PCI chapter, with books, supplies, and computers through our fundraising endeavors.  Our hopes are to redirect some of the energy of our international initiatives toward more local efforts through our partnership with the Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy and the support of its students.

The young PCI Pals at the Academy serve as mentees and are the foundation of the program. Because our NSBE chapter mentors are responsible for developing the students’ short and long term goals and holding the students accountable, they must first undergo a training series to ensure their mentoring methods are most effective. Recent college graduates also share on their careers, the educational path they took, and lend advice to the young aspiring engineers.  Our college-based workshop sessions include:

• Careers in Engineering
• SAT Prep
• Applying for a Scholarship
• How to Pick a College
• Financial Literacy
• Interviewing Skills
•  Leadership: In Your School, Community, and the Workplace

As we continue to strive to achieve PCI chapter of the year, the program’s focus on raising student achievement in the state of New York is channeled through the art of mentoring, tutoring, and monthly interactive STEM workshops.  We are excited to challenge students to think outside of the box, dream big, and remain motivated to work hard.

Does your organization or someone you know work to close the achievement gap and raise level of academic excellence for all students? We invite you to share your story!