BEYA's first event was held in 1987 at Morgan State University, the largest historically Black college and university in the state of Maryland. Since then, every February during National Engineers Week and Black History Month, BEYA has encouraged people to make a difference by sharing their knowledge, stories, experiences and discoveries at the BEYA Conference.

Some of the most successful and brilliant African-Americans in the world will be present for the event which includes mentoring, networking and a celebration of Black accomplishments as a people.  One of the main goals of the conference is to encourage more African-American youth and children of all races to consider math, science, engineering, and technology as career choices.  Therefore your participation is critical to the success of the event and its mission.   If you know of a young person or if you yourself would like to take pride in the contributions Blacks make to society then consider this your invitation to attend the BEYA Conference at the Marriott Wardman Hotel in Washington, DC from February 7-9.
 
BEYA's top award goes to the Black Engineer of the Year. The 2013 Black Engineer of the Year is Freeman A. Hrabowski, III. He has served as president of UMBC (The University of Maryland, Baltimore County) since 1992. His research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. He chaired the National Academies’ committee that produced the recent report, Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads. He also was recently named by President Obama to chair the newly created President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans. In 2008, he was named one of America’s Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked UMBC the nation’s #1 “Up and Coming” university the past four years (2009-12).
 
In addition to academic institutions, many Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies submit their top Black Engineers for consideration of this prestigious award and a group of 20 previous winners and distinguished scientists pore over the lengthy applications for months until a winner is finally agreed upon.  The BEYA award is considered the most coveted, prestigious and prized award of its kind.  Previous winners include John Brooks Slaughter, Guion S. Bluford, James W. Mitchell.  Mark E. Dean, Shirley Ann Jackson, Lydia W. Thomas, and Linda Gooden.

In addition, twenty separate category award winners are also recognized for their innovation and their contributions to business and society.

Over the next 30 days, The BEYA Beat will bring you stories of people who have received BEYAs in the past. Like the 2011 Black Engineer of the Year who was one of the young athletes in Jim Ellis' all African-American swim team, depicted in the 2007 movie Pride starring Terrence Howell. Do you know who the 2011 Black Engineer of the Year was? 

We also want you to start thinking of some of your favorite Black Engineers.  Tell us why you think they are making a difference? Have they solved a problem that has helped shape the future?  Is your nominee's work essential to our health, happiness, and safety? Please send in your e-mails making the case for your favorite nominee for Black Engineer of the Year to editors@ccgmag.com

Until the next time, don't forget to follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BlackEngineer  for up-to-the-minute BEYA news and comment and Like us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Engineer-of-the-Year-STEM-Awards-Conference/91782826084
 
Career Communications Group's magazine, US Black Engineer & Information Technology (USBE&IT) continues to bring its readers the latest on engineering jobs to aspire to, the rise of Blacks in scientific and technical careers  and developments in  science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.