NSBE - Fall 2012 - (Page 45)

solar-PoWered Car adds flaIr To seeK saN dIeGo hard at work with the jet toy giving oral presentations in oakland C seek new orleans students and mentors outside sci-tech academy gearing up for a gravity cruiser competition taking a test in washington, d.c. eNGINeerING CHaNGes THe Woods famIly’s Game W hen Andy Woods graduated from the University of Washington in 1995 with a B.A. degree in American ethnic studies, a career in one of the social sciences seemed a viable option. But, over the course of a final semester and summer, the former college basketball standout’s life took an interesting turn, one that, years later, would even impact his 11-year-old son, Cameron. “I took a few calculus and pre-engineering classes, and then had an internship with (NSBE Executive Director) Carl Mack at (METRO – King County) in Seattle,” says Woods, 42. “It wasn’t until my internship with Carl that I found that this was a career I could do.” With his interest in the sciences awakened, Woods later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from California State University, Los Angeles. Now, he is a transportation engineer with Caltrans in Long Beach, Calif., where he analyzes the environmental impact of state transportation projects. This summer, Woods drove 100 miles to the SEEK Camp in San Diego, passing on his interest in STEM to his son. “I wanted him to get exposed to engineering at an early age,” Woods says. “What he’s getting at this age, I didn’t get until I was in college.” — KMB hallenged by the president and chief operating officer of San Diego Gas & Electric to create a renewable energy activity for the SEEK program in San Diego, three young black SDG&E electrical engineers — Henry Cobb, Christian Henderson and Kazeem Omidiji — created the design for a toy solar car. They also developed a lesson plan, including basic math and engineering principles, that enabled SEEK students to learn as they built their customized model. “Kazeem, Christian and Henry are…active members of NSBE,” says Mike Niggli, SDG&E’s president and COO. “They were also volunteers at last year’s SEEK camp…so they seemed the perfect choice to ask to work collaboratively to develop the idea.” How does SDG&E’s involvement in SEEK advance the company’s business model? Niggli adds: “Supporting programs in the K–12 population, specifically those involving science, technology, engineering and math, helps to contribute to the development of the future workforce with skills that many in our region will need.” “We want ‘A&E’ to mean more than ‘athletes and entertainers,’ ” Niglee says, echoing the words of “Brother E.D.,” NSBE Executive Director Carl B. Mack. “The SEEK camp provides roles models that show A&E can also mean ‘academic excellence.’ ” — KMB www.nsbe.org nsbe magazine • fall 2012 • 45

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - Fall 2012

NSBE - Fall 2012
Contents
Lead by Example
Come Correct!
Kola Fagbayi of Shell
The Programs Zone
Veronica Davis Honored as White House ‘Champion’
A Catalyst for Change
NSBE and ExxonMobil Reward Retention ‘Impact’
Dr. Baratunde Cola Earns Presidential Research Award
Regional News
In the Lead
At the Vanguard
Staying Connected in Today’s Business World
Back to Indiana
NSBE Calendar
Seek 2012: An Experience Worth the Ride
The PDC Is Coming Soon, to Dallas!
The Professional’s Perspective
The Space SIG Lifts Off
CE Cover: Status:FALSE
Alumni Officers
Biggest and Best
What’s in a Name?
AE National and Regional Websites
Advertisers Index

NSBE - Fall 2012