NSBE Magazine - Fall 2011 - (Page 66)

XL’ent! nYC alumni extension named national Chapter of the Year BY KeVin M. BrisCoe a fter several everyone on the same page. years of lessIt’s an awesome feeling.” than-stellar opTo be selected as the erations, NSBE’s National AE Chapter of the New York City “XL” Alumni Year, a chapter must excel Extension Chapter has in academic achievement, transformed itself into an scholarship, leadership and organization to be reckoned the overall facilitation of with, culminating in its programs and activities that selection as the 2010–2011 embody the NSBE Mission National Alumni Chapter and the Alumni Extension of the Year. Given this top focus for the year. The top honor at the 37th Annual chapter must also demonConvention in St. Louis, strate chapter and leaderMo., last March, NYC XL ship development initiatives positively impacted its comas outlined by the Institute munity through a number for Chapter Development of mentoring workshops (ICD), a program that while also rallying around a Members of the new york City “Xl” alumni extension Chapter at God’s love We provides a suite of services common mission and vision deliver soup kitchen, where they participated in a community service event and tools to increase and in october 2010. Front row: (left to right) Charles norwood, sean spence and to increase chapter awareenhance organizational Kameelah Majeid; back row: Tenicka norwood (second from left) and steven ness, program participation adegbenle (second from right) sustainability. and membership size. The NYC XL Chapter “The NYC XL Chapter has demonstrated that a chapter can was selected from five AE chapters that met and exceeded decide to be bigger and better after a few years of inactivity, the criteria. It was chosen based on its weighted scores if they put in the work,” says National Alumni Chair Emeritus on the ICD submissions, as well as its efforts to increase Thzaira Charles, P.E. “It is a great testament that the chapter membership numbers, program participation and community was able to revitalize itself through not only good leadership impact. but by also encouraging its members to get involved.” “The National Society of Black Engineers would not be the Chapter members got involved in a number of ways, from a organization it is today without the persistence and effort networking brunch with college seniors, to the annual A Walk of our local professional chapters,” says this year’s National for Education, to free tutoring for NSBE Pre-College Initiative AE chair, Strauder C. Patton IV, P.E. “New York is a priority members, to other community service, educational and profescity where we need our NSBE members to serve as mentors sional development opportunities for its members. and leaders to elevate the industry and science, technology, “When I graduated and moved to New York, I wanted to engineering and math (education) in their communities. NYC join the NSBE chapter, but there was not a lot of activity,” says XL deserves this recognition as Chapter of the Year for its Feyisola Ogunfemi, New York City XL’s 2010–11 president. vital role in executing this mission.” “Now, we’ve gotten people engaged, keeping each of us aligned Ms. Charles adds that, “As a native New Yorker, I know with our zone and chapter initiatives. Everybody is moving in that once you’re down in this city, it can be hard to get the same direction.” back up. (But, it’s good to see) that, once again, the NYC XL Ogunfemi adds that she always wanted the chapter’s efforts Chapter can be a strong NSBE–AE chapter in one of the to be recognized at a national level. most influential cities in the country. As Frank Sinatra said, “Our initial goal was to be honored as the Chapter of the ‘If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.’ ” ■ Region. We set a high goal, but we knew we could reach it,” she says. “But, it’s very cool to be recognized as the national Kevin M. Briscoe is a writer based in Baltimore, Md., and a Chapter of the Year, because we worked very hard to keep former editor of NSBE Magazine. www.nsbe.org 66 • CAREER ENGINEER • fall 2011 • http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE Magazine - Fall 2011

NSBE Magazine - Fall 2011
Contents
The Next Level
Achievement Finds an Ally
Leadership, Your Way
The Programs Zone
Dr. Philicity Williams of the National Security Agency
Chapter News
Membership News
International News
NSBE Advisor Makes History
Pack Out Pittsburgh!
Empowered by Vision
Top Officers
St. Lucian Students Thrive at IIT
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
SEEKing Excitement for STEM
What’s New?
NSBE Calendar
The Professional’s Perspective
Shifting to Renewables for Electric Power
Alumni Officers
The Japan Effect
AE Members on the Move
Golden Torch Honoree
‘Brother Founder’ Donates $100K to NSBE
XL’ent!
Building Successful AE Chapters
Advertisers Index

NSBE Magazine - Fall 2011