KU News Release

Engineering student group earns national honor

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers has been named the 2008 National Small Chapter of the Year.

A letter from Michael Smith, director of programs for the society, said, “We are proud of your accomplishments as a leader and chapter and encourage you to continue to strive for mentoring and professional excellence.”

Jamie Hines, a senior in electrical engineering and past president of the KU chapter, said the award is a reflection of the hard work members have logged in recent years. Hines is the daughter of Maliaka Jackson of Belleville, Ill., and a graduate of Belleville High School East.

“We boosted up our programs,” she said. “We’ve done a lot more with the community here in Lawrence. We’re trying to start a PCI chapter, which is a pre-collegiate chapter with our Lawrence High School and our Free State High School.”

The members also have been active in national activities and attended regional and national meetings.

To earn the national title, the small chapter, which must have between 10 and 50 members, must win best small regional honors. This year marks the second year in a row the KU group has won that distinction. There are six regions and between 100 and 150 small chapters nationwide.

The KU student chapter averages about 25 student members, said Florence Boldridge, director of diversity programs for the School of Engineering.

“These students truly earned this honor,” Boldridge said. “They put in so much effort, and about half of the members were able to attend the national meeting this year in Orlando, Fla. These KU students have a lot of aspirations and they have the drive to see them through to reality. They are so deserving of this award.”

The KU chapter received a cash award to support its future activities and a plaque.

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