Alaine Allen to receive NSBE Golden Torch Award for Minority Engineering Program Director of the Year

PITTSBURGH  (March 21, 2012) ... Next week, March 28 - 31, 2012, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) will hold its 38th annual convention at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh.  During this event Ms. Alaine Allen will be feted for her exceptional work as director of the Pitt EXCEL and INVESTING NOW programs in the Swanson School of Engineering.

INVESTING NOW, created in 1988, is a college preparatory program created to stimulate, support, and recognize the high academic performance of pre-college students from groups that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors and careers. The program ensures that participants are well prepared for matriculation at the University of Pittsburgh or other selective schools. Pitt EXCEL is a comprehensive diversity program committed to the recruitment, retention, and graduation of academically excellent engineering undergraduates, particularly individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in the field.   Pitt EXCEL provides academic advising and counseling, tutoring, and summer initiatives including an engineering academy and internships

Ms. Allen will receive the 2012 Golden Torch Award for Minority Engineering Program Director of the Year.  The Golden Torch Award recognizes excellence among technical professionals, corporate, government and academic leaders, and university and pre-college students.  According to NSBE, these awards illustrate the possibilities that can be cultivated through support and responsibility.  The award will be presented to Ms. Allen at a conference ceremony on Saturday, March 31.


###