Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
Tuskegee University will celebrate academic excellence during the annual Scholarship Convocation at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, in the "Chappie" James Arena.
Joining this year’s event as guest speaker, Dr. Calvin Mackie is a mechanical engineer, educator, entrepreneur, and the founder of STEM NOLA and STEM Global Action, two groundbreaking organizations dedicated to expanding access to STEM education in under-resourced communities. Since its founding in 2013, STEM NOLA has engaged over 200,000 K–12 students in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning experiences across the U.S.
A former tenured engineering professor at Tulane University, Dr. Mackie holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech, earned in 1996 as one of just 11 African Americans to do so nationwide that year. He also holds a patent for a safety mechanism used to retrofit stow bins used in Boeing aircraft.
STEM NOLA uses a community-based model to provide scalable, hands-on programming that meets students where they are. Its national expansion, STEM Global Action, continues this work in cities across the country. In 2024, more than 40,000 children and adults participated in programming across more than 2,400 schools. Events like STEM Fests, hosted at venues such as Yankee Stadium and the Caesars Superdome, draw thousands. The STEM Fellows program also trains college students to serve as mentors and leaders in STEM education.
Dr. Mackie has been recognized with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring, the AARP Purpose Prize, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Award.
“Preparing our students to be leaders at the highest levels of their future careers and in service to communities around the world remains Tuskegee’s highest goal and these students exemplify that legacy,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO. “We want to lift up each of these students, to encourage and celebrate their hard work and commitment to learning that I know will lead them to be a part of solving the world’s most complex problems.”
Recognition of students includes three categories – Annual Honor Roll, 2024-2025 Eminent Scholars and University Scholars:
Annual Honor Roll
In recognition of academic excellence and for the promotion of scholarly work, based on the work of the preceding school year, an Annual Honor Roll is published during the fall semester.
2024-2025 Eminent Scholars
Students who maintain a grade point average of 4.00 qualify as Eminent Scholars.
University Scholars
One student in each of Tuskegee University’s colleges and schools will be designated as a University Scholar.
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