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Inclusive Excellence Newsletter v12
October 4th, 2024
Inclusion | Excellence | Community
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Welcome to the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia (UGA) newsletter! We are dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusive excellence where everyone can thrive and succeed. Through embracing diverse perspectives, we aim to address the world's challenges and provide a supportive environment for all students, faculty, and staff. |
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Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off Dinner! |
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On September 18th, the College of Engineering and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers celebrated the 3rd annual Hispanic Heritage Month Dinner Celebration. UGA alumni Joselin Ortuño currently works at NASA as a SPARTAN Flight Controller Trainee and shared her inspiring journey to NASA from UGA and her triumphs of being a Hispanic engineer and the importance of diversity in STEM fields. There were also special salsa performance by UGA Ballroom. After a night of fun and celebration, guests were able to enjoy food from Cali n Titos! |
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National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th to October 15th. The month was first established as a week-long celebration in 1968 and expanded to a month in 1988 to recognize the rich history and culture of Hispanic Americans. This period holds special significance as it coincides with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries. For the field of engineering, Hispanic Americans have been key contributors, advancing breakthroughs in technology, science, and innovation. From trailblazing engineers to dedicated students and professionals, their impact continues to shape the future of our discipline. During this time, we celebrate the culture, achievements, and contributions of Hispanic Americans, especially their impact on our society, including in STEM and Engineering. |
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ECAM Inclusive Excellence Committee |
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Left to right: Chair Head Eliza A Banu, Wayne M Johnson, Felix Luis Santiago Collazo, Gokul Dev Vasudevan, Whitney Pagan, Sonia Garcia (ad hoc) |
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The University of Georgia has partnered with the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) to provide financial and programmatic support to students in engineering and computer science.
UGA’s partnership with NACME will provide students with access to exclusive NACME opportunities, such as annual scholarship awards, technical development programming, and internships with NACME’s board companies. These resources are designed to support students’ academic and career success.
“NACME has been a valuable partner for UGA for some time now, through opportunities such as our Autodesk design bootcamp,” said Sonia Garcia, assistant dean for inclusive excellence at the UGA College of Engineering. “We are thrilled to formally partner with them as a Block Grant Partner Institution to offer more opportunities for our students.”
College of Engineering interim dean Stephan Durham added, “We are grateful for NACME’s support and partnership of our program and students, and to be able to provide more scholarship and programmatic offerings.”
NACME Block Grant Renewable Scholarships
To be eligible for the NACME Block Grant Renewable Scholarship Program students must:
- Be in good standing and matriculating full-time on campus at the University of Georgia,
- Engineering (all majors) and Computer Science students are eligible to apply,
- GPA Requirement: First time applicant (if not a freshman) must have a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA and to receive renewal support must maintain a minimum required GPA of 2.8.
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Scholarships and
Student Opportunities |
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NACME Block Grant Application
All engineering students will be able to apply via a direct application link provided by NACME, forthcoming, a college-wide announcement will be going out. Application link will be opened on a rolling basis from Sep 16, 2024 through Oct 15, 2024. The inaugural UGA Engineering NACME Block Grant 2024-2025 Cohort will comprise 24 engineering students. Scholarships are for engineering students in all years (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th+).
Other NACME Scholarships – Annual Awards
UGA engineering and computer science students can also apply directly for separate NACME annual awards.
NACME Technical Development Programs
NACME also offers weekly webinars on technical subjects that lead to technical certifications, cash prizes for winners of NACME’s Hackathon held at their annual conference, and programming during the summer via technical bootcamps. UGA students receive priority access to all of NACME’s programs. Register for a weekly webinar, check out NACME’s summer experience page to sign up for a technical boot camp, or attend the NACME Annual Conference.
Contact
For more information, please contact
Dr. Sonia Garcia, assistant dean for inclusive excellence.
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Awards, Fellowships and Scholarships
by the Graduate School
Upcoming award submission deadlines and notices
Graduate Degree Accelerator
October 24, 2024
The Graduate Degree Accelerator assists advanced doctoral students in overcoming obstacles that may hinder their progress toward degree completion. Students must be nominated by their department’s Graduate Coordinator by the October 24, 2024 deadline.
Excellence in Research, Excellence in Teaching, and Engaged Scholarship Awards
The Excellence in Research, Excellence in Teaching, and Engaged Scholarship Awards recognize graduate students who excel in ways that fulfill UGA’s mission. Deadlines and nomination materials vary by award. Recipients will be honored at the Honors Week ceremony in Spring 2025. Students must be nominated by their department.
A list of upcoming Graduate School Awards and approximate deadlines is available here.
Open External Fellowship notices with deadlines, including the NSF GRFP application deadlines of October 15-18, 2024, are available here.
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Save the Date for the ACE Experience 2025
February 12–13, 2025
The American Council on Education’s (ACE) Annual Meeting is now the ACE Experience (ACEx)!
Join us at the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts* in Washington, DC on February 12–13, 2025 for a transformative event that will shape the future of higher education.
ACEx2025 will offer a unique opportunity to examine higher education’s role in society now and in the future alongside visionary leaders from diverse fields. Designed specifically for college and university presidents and chancellors, ACEx2025 will provide high-level perspectives on the critical national and international issues impacting higher education. During immersive sessions, speakers will present groundbreaking ideas that will leave you with a renewed sense of purpose.
Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more information about early bird registration and other exciting detail
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California has officially banned legacy admissions at private and nonprofit colleges, joining three other states — Colorado, Maryland, and Virginia — in prohibiting the controversial practice.
The decision, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, is seen as a step toward making the college admissions process fairer and more equitable, particularly as legacy admissions have long been criticized for disproportionately benefiting wealthy, predominantly white students.
“In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work,” Newsom wrote in a statement Monday. “The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few.”
The new legislation, known as Assembly Bill 1780, targets private institutions, as public universities in the state, including the University of California system, eliminated the use of legacy preferences in 1998. Read More >
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HERE Lab Proposes Wealth-Based Pell Grant
As anxieties over college affordability and student loan debt continue to rise, some experts are calling for a reevaluation of how federal financial aid is allocated. Currently, Pell Grants are awarded based on family income and household size, without factoring in family wealth — such as college savings, investment funds, and other assets. Critics argue this model leaves many families, particularly Black, Latino, and Indigenous families with lower wealth but higher wages, ineligible for sufficient aid, forcing them to take on student loans and perpetuating racial inequality.
Read More >
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Inclusive Excellence Team |
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From left to right: Dr. Sonia Garcia, Livia Epnett,
Krystina Iturbe, Semira Chennault |
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