Minorities in Engineering Are On the Rise National Engineers Week – February 17-23

Feb. 20, 2013 - PRLog -- DEARBORN, Mich, — As part of the commitment to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce, National Engineers Week helps to increase understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. Through its annual New Faces of Engineering (http://www.eweek.org/Site/Engineers/newfaces2013/index.shtml) recognition program, engineers, age 30 years and younger, are highlighted for the exciting and unique work they’re doing to impact society. Among this year’s honorees is twenty-three year old, Meredeth Griffin, Oklahoma City, Okla., nominated by the SME Education Foundation (http://www.smeef.org/).

After graduating from Oklahoma Christian University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Meredeth began her professional career as an Engineering Technician at Peake Fuel Solutions, an affiliate of Chesapeake Energy Corporation. At Peake Fuel Solutions, she works as part of a team helping to introduce alternate fuel systems to the long-haul trucking industry. The team works to install natural gas conversion kits onto heavy duty trucks in an effort to reduce emissions as well as fuel costs while helping America rely less on foreign oil.

Encouraged by her mother, father and other family members, Meredeth began her journey as an engineer when she was enrolled in the Francis Tuttle Pre-Engineering Academy (http://www.francistuttle.edu/) in Oklahoma City. There, she pursued rigorous advanced math, science and engineering courses, which gave her a better understanding of what a career in engineering might be like. Today, Meredeth continues to offer her support by encouraging local middle school girls in their math and science classes —helping to shape their ideas on careers in manufacturing and engineering. Says Meredeth, “I tell them some of the things I wish I would have learned as a student. There are so many different sides of engineering apart from the technical aspect —engineers do so much more than engineer.”  

The Pre-Engineering Academy at Francis Tuttle Technology Center (FTTC) is a college preparatory program that prepares students for success in collegiate engineering pathways. A fully realized STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum allows students to complete mathematics courses through Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus BC and science courses that include Advanced Placement Chemistry and calculus-based (AP) Physics. Project Lead The Way engineering classes are taught as well. These classes allow for the integration of academics and add the very important component of relevance to advanced math and science.

The Advanced Manufacturing Career Training Programs at Francis Tuttle are specifically designed to deliver the knowledge and skills necessary for students to go directly from classroom and labs to a career. Equipment and facilities reflect the workplace, and curriculum is developed with advisory committee input from employers and business owners in each respective industry.

In 2011, Francis Tuttle Technology Center (FTTC), was named one of six exemplary schools by the SME Education Foundation as part of its PRIME (Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education) program, a community-based approach to manufacturing education and creating strong partnerships between exemplary schools, businesses and organizations.

Through its PRIME program, SME Education Foundation makes it possible for schools like Francis Tuttle Pre-Engineering Academy to offer young minorities like Meredeth, the opportunity to fully explore advanced manufacturing and engineering - a matter of fundamental importance to the economic strength of the United States.

About National Engineers Week:
The National Engineers Week Foundation, a formal coalition of more than 100 professional societies, major corporations and government agencies, is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers among young students and by promoting pre-college literacy in math and science. For more information, visit www.eweek.org.  Information about all of the New Faces of Engineering College Edition can be found at www.eweek.org.

About PRIME:
In 2011, the SME Education Foundation launched PRIME (http://www.smeef.org/programs/detail/prime) (Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education) which continues to create strong partnerships between organizations, businesses and exemplary schools providing a comprehensive, community-based approach to advanced manufacturing education. Nine new schools joined the program in 2012, bringing the total to 15 across the nation. This initiative builds on a five-year, $5.2 million investment in the Foundation’s STEM-based workforce development program.  

About SME Education Foundation:
The SME Education Foundation is committed to inspiring, supporting and preparing the next generation of manufacturing engineers and technologists in the advancement of manufacturing education. Created by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 1979, the SME Education Foundation has provided more than $33 million since 1980 in grants, scholarships and awards through its partnerships with corporations, organizations, foundations, and individual donors. Visit the SME Education Foundation at www.smeef.org. Also visit www.CareerMe.org for information on advanced manufacturing careers and www.ManufacturingisCool.com, our award-winning Website for young people.

Media Contact:
Bart A. Aslin, CEO, SME Education Foundation, (313) 425-3300, baslin@sme.org
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Note to Editors: Photos available upon request.