Summer is almost over, but before it ends the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Selection Committee will meet to review nominations for the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) recognition program now in its 35th year. Please visit the Career Communications Group Awards Nomination platform to submit a nomination.

BEYA categories include community service, technical contribution, research leadership, student leadership, and technical sales. Other category awards showcase affirmative action, career achievement, educational leadership – college-level promotion of education, and lifetime achievement.

Three years ago, BEYA introduced new categories, which acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by past Black Engineers of the Year to the STEM enterprise, and for the positive impact on the wider STEM community.

Legacy awards include the Linda Gooden Legacy Award for Entrepreneurship, the Albert J. Edmonds Legacy Award in Federal IT, the Joe N. Ballard Legacy Award for Public Engineering Services, the Rodney C. Adkins Legacy Award for Business Transformation, the Dr. John Brooks Slaughter Legacy Award for Higher Education and Leadership, the Anthony R. James Legacy Award in the Utilities category, the William R. Wiley Award for Research, and the Walt W. Braithwaite Award for Aviation, which went to George Jonas in 2019.

The selection panel looks for “first” stories. If a nominee is a pioneer in his or her field, then the panel takes a hard look at the reasons that nominee broke the barrier. They look for the level of responsibility within the organization. Equally important to the selection panel is the prospect that an award will positively impact community activities, and other minorities seeking science and technology careers.

Click here to nominate an outstanding engineer.

Key dates to remember:

■ Finalists will be announced during October 2019
■ Awards ceremonies will be held February 13-15, 2020