Westwood High School’s National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) builds a community where students of color can explore careers in STEM, with support and inspiration from professionals. This program offers projects where students have workshops and networking opportunities.
The NSBE at Westwood High School inspires young black students who want to go into the engineering career field. The club, part of a broader organization, was founded in 1975, which eventually broadened “Boasting more than 700 chapters and a membership exceeding 24,000 around the globe…” stated on NSBE’s website. It was then integrated into WHS school’s wide range of clubs and works to educate students on engineering.
The club was first formed by two Purdue University students Edward Barnette and Fred Cooper in 1971. The organization’s main objective was to improve the relationship and recruitment of black engineering students. It started to get more recognition in 1974, starting to gain more members and encouraging students to embrace their interest in the field of engineering.
The club was first added to the school around the year 2015; it was introduced to the high school because Westwood did not have an NSBE program. The club had been in WHS, but in past years a short group of members with a sum of 8 people. Through these passing years, it has increased in number making the club more interactive and giving it a chance to make a difference at the school.
The director of NSBE, Freddie Harrell, also the career development facilitator at WHS, further explains “We were approached by a group here in Columbia called the links…its a group of philographic women here in the area, and they had always affiliated themselves with a high that had a STEM program.”
The program’s mission at WHS is to increase the number of black engineers who are academically successful and are typically in STEM. It begins with introducing students to the engineering community and what their futures may look like if they pursue a career in engineering. The club also has weekly meetings to share ideas and introduce new topics.
Thanna Davis, the president of the NSBE explains “…executives kind of collab through email, then we all get together on Wednesdays and share our discussions with the rest of the club. We also have what we call general body meetings which are required by the NSBE organization.”
Through the mentorship of the club, Westwoods NSBE club’s main objective is to encourage diversity within STEM and prepare its members for college as well as career success. NSBE advances a critical mission: “to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.”
