DAG Program awards 19 student section grants for 2005–06

Mary James Legatski
Center for Leadership & Diversity

A total of $22,860 in grants from the Society's Diversity Action Grant (DAG) Program, for the 2005–06 academic year, was awarded to 19 ASME Student Sections.

The DAG Program, which is supported by the Center for Leadership and Diversity, is a competitive program that awards grants ranging from $500 to $1,500 to ASME Student Sections to sponsor events that: Promote the inclusion of women and under-represented minorities in ASME Student Sections and in mechanical engineering; inspire K-12 students to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education; and assist minority- and women-owned businesses to solve engineering design problems.

ASME Student Sections receiving awards for the current academic year include: Baylor University, $1,250 for the program "Engineering and Computer Science Day Workshop"; Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, $625 for "Teaching Kids Basic Physics Principles"; Central Washington University, $1,500 for "Summer Camp to Introduce Females to Engineering, Construction Management and Aviation"; Drexel University, $1,500 for "Educating High School Students on Options Within Engineering"; Johns Hopkins University, $1,500 for "Ready Set Design! For Baltimore Middle School Girls"; United States Military Academy at West Point, $1,500 for "Engineering Exposition (September 2006)"; Universidad del Turabo, $510 for "Educate High School Girls About Engineering"; University of California, Irvine, $500 for "Barbeque Partnered Around E-Week Events"; and University of California, Riverside, $1,000 for "Space and Science Day Targeting Elementary and Middle School Students."

The other student sections receiving DAG grants are: University of Dayton, $900 for "UD Pre-Engineering Program"; University of Evansville, $1,500 for "Expanding Career Horizons in Partnership with SWE and AAUW"; University of Hartford, $1,500 for "Two 'Engineering Days' at Local Middle and High Schools"; University of Illinois, $1,500 for "Teaching Engineering Design to Middle School Students"; University of Miami, $800 for "Build It Impromptu Design Competition for High School Students"; University of New Hampshire, $1,500 for "Girls Connect Pilot Program Using FIRST"; University of Louisville, $1,000 for "Car Shop Project"; University of Nevada, Las Vegas, $1,275 for "5-Day Engineering Camp Workshops"; Virginia Commonwealth University, $1,500 for "Engineering Competition for High School Students"; and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, $1,500 for "Engineering Perspectives Conference."

The 19 proposals accepted for funding met the DAG Program criteria. In addition, many included collaborations with other campuses, organizations within the community, cost sharing of associated expenses, and a method for measuring the success of the project.

Solicitation of applications for the 2006–07 academic year will begin in September 2006. The application deadline is Nov. 1.

For additional information on the Diversity Action Grants Program, go to www.asme.org/communities/diversities/bdo/dag.html.

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