Purdue News
Purdue NewsEmily M. Wadsworth, who directs the Women in Engineering Mentoring Program, attended a White House ceremony Thursday (9/11) to receive the award -- a commemorative presidential certificate and $10,000 grant. Nine institutions and 10 individuals nationwide were honored for outstanding mentoring efforts.
The Purdue program was created in 1992 to expand the number of women engineering students. Nearly 500 women engineering students have participated. The mentoring program provides constant support for women engineers throughout their college career, featuring third-year undergraduates working with first-year students and fourth-year students working with second-year students. Another component focuses on graduate students and includes interaction with alumni who hold doctoral degrees.
Since the program began, the retention rate for women engineering students participating in the mentoring program is 19 percent higher than for women who did not take part. Several other academic departments at Purdue and 35 other institutions across the country have expressed interest in the program.
"Hundreds of people have worked on this project and participated in the program, and this award is a wonderful recognition of their efforts," Wadsworth said. "In addition, this program has attracted a very diverse group of women from many cultures and backgrounds, which has added so much to their experience and success within the program."
Wadsworth will use the $10,000 to continue the program.
This is the second year of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, which is administered by the National Science Foundation. The awards recognize outstanding mentoring efforts and programs from kindergarten though graduate school to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in science, math and engineering.
CONTACT: Wadsworth, (765) 494-6611
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
