The ASME Board on Diversity and Outreach* is pleased to announce the selection of the 2002/2003 Diversity Action Grant recipients. The Board awarded $17,360 in grant funds to 14 ASME Student Sections, with individual grants ranging from $750 to $1,500. The Student Sections, along with a description of their projects, are listed below.

The Diversity Action Grants program is sponsored by the Board on Diversity and Outreach* in cooperation with the ASME Student Section Committee (SSC).  The grants are awarded to ASME Student Sections for projects that promote inclusiveness and encourage the participation of women and underrepresented minority students in student section activities and in mechanical engineering.

*As of 2005, this award is being administered by the Committee on Internship Programs of the Center for Leadership & Diversity

College/University	Amount	Description of Project
Arkansas Tech University	$1000	An aerospace design workshop tailored to interest female and minority students in math, physics and engineering through the design, assembly and testing of bottle rockets with the use of rocketry design software. The Student Section will partner with the Pope County Cooperative Extension Service, the Arkansas State ASME Minorities and Women Coordinator and the Pope County 4-H Program
Cal State, Northridge	$1500	A one-day "Young Engineers Day" to promote awareness in engineering for 9th and 10th grade minorities and females. The event will feature engineering speakers, campus tours and the design, construction and competition of popsicle bridges. The Student Section will partner with the Society of Women Engineers.
Drexel University	$1500	The Student Section, in partnership with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers, will develop a poster series highlighting women and minority pioneers in aviation and aerospace. The posters, which will include the photos and biographies of the highlighted pioneers, will be showcased at various events, local high schools and regional colleges to encourage the participation and retention of diverse groups into engineering.
Georgia Institute of Technology	$1500	ASME Diversity Day, featuring workshops, technical activities, a design contest and speakers, will focus on attracting high school females into the engineering disciplines. The Student Section will partner with the Society of Women Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Lamar University	$800	In partnership with the Society of Women Engineers, the Student Section will host a rubber-band powered car competition to encourage high school females and minorities to pursue an engineering education. The event will include team development, as well as the design, construction and testing of the cars.
North Carolina A&T State University	$1500	The Student Section will sponsor a one-day event designed to attract under-represented minorities and women into mechanical engineering. The event will be co-sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers.
Oregon Institute of Technology	$1500	In partnership with the Society of Women Engineers, the Student Section will conduct an outreach program to local high schools to encourage minorities and females to choose a mechanical engineering education. The program will include a series of workshops and a design competition.
Purdue University School of Technology	$960	The Student Section will develop "The Changing Face of Engineering," a poster series featuring women in mechanical engineering. The posters will be displayed at local junior and senior high schools, as well as being posted on web sites.
Rowan University	$1500	In partnership with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers, the student section will host a one-day outreach event targeting local high school students, "Engineering is Great for All". The program will feature engineering speakers, networking sessions and a campus tour.
University of Alabama	$1000	The Student Section will host an out-reach program for pre-college young women interested in pursuing careers in mechanical engineering. Partnering organizations include the Society of Women Engineers, IEEE, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Alabama space Grant Consortium.
University of Hartford	$1500	The Student Section will host "Engineering for All," an outreach program for local students to promote engineering education. Event presentations are scheduled from November through April and will include a history of engineering, hands-on experiences and problem-solving through games. Partnering organizations include IEEE, Society of Women Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers and National Society of Black Engineers. Additional funding is provided through a NASA Space Grant.
University of Puerto Rico	$750	In partnership with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Student Section will sponsor a one-day outreach program focused on young women high school students. The event will feature women engineers as speakers on careers in engineering.
Virginia Tech	$1500	"Engineering Perspective Conference," a one-day event promoting diversity in engineering to local high school students, will feature team exercises, design projects, speakers and tours. The goal of the event is to increase the membership of minorities and women in the mechanical engineering profession and in ASME.
Youngstown State University	$ 850	The Student Section will provide tutorial sessions for local high school students to encourage students to enroll in engineering curricula.