National Society of Black Engineers wins Program with Purpose Award
The group was acknowledged for changing the culture of engineering beyond the labs
Shaping the engineers of tomorrow while advancing social change is a guiding principle of the Washington University in St. Louis chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).
Presented by Campus Life, the Excellence in Leadership Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of WashU students and their co-curricular experience.
Representing the McKelvey School of Engineering, NSBE was nominated for the award by its adviser, LaVeasey Carter, assistant dean of undergraduate student services and the group’s adviser since 2022.
“This honor shows that they can have an impact beyond the classroom and on campus,” Carter said. “The organization is showing other students what McKelvey Engineering is about, what you can do with it and where you can take it.”
The award is significant for NSBE president Donovan Dixson, a graduating senior majoring in chemical engineering with a minor in energy engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering.
“The Program with Purpose Award greatly benefits NSBE,” Dixson said. “As an organization, we have dedicated ourselves to ensuring success this year, and we are pleased to see that our hard work has been acknowledged through a formal award.
“As an engineering support group, we understand that our needs and support systems differ from those of other organizations on campus,” Dixson said. “This award serves as a platform for student groups like NSBE to receive the recognition we deserve, as we navigate not only the engineering space but also cultivate an affinity space that offers our members academic, social, service and professional opportunities.”
As noted in its nomination, community outreach played a vital role in winning the award.
In February, NSBE curated the “Black is Future,” a partnership with the All Black Creatives Foundation, an organization that strives to create community, equity and opportunities for Black creatives, and McKelvey Engineering. The event, a mix of engineering and art, included an installation celebrating Black innovators’ contributions to STEM.
Another program was the Pre-Collegiate Initiative, which encourages K-12 students to enter fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics by providing them with early exposure to technical competitions, academic development and leadership training.
Nadiyah Ahmad, a junior majoring in computer science in McKelvey Engineering and in psychology in Arts & Sciences, is the incoming vice president of NSBE at WashU.
“Winning the Program with Purpose Award is a significant achievement for our organization,” Ahmad said. “However, it’s not the end goal that we strive toward. We aspire to consistently create meaningful action and enhance the collegiate experience for Black engineers.
“In addition to increasing our visibility and potential opportunities, this award has the potential to facilitate new partnerships and collaborations on campus,” Ahmad said.
After winning the award, Ahmad reflected on the organization’s accomplishments.
“It serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication of our members who diligently translated our ideas into action, promoted inclusivity in our programming and propelled the chapter forward. Plus, it looks good on the shelf!” she said.
Carter said he sees the award as “a motivator and a momentum builder” for the NSBE chapter.
“It gives them a benchmark that tells them where we are and what we are doing,” he said. “We have been recognized and now we must uphold that standard.”
