UB distinguished professor George Lee was honored by the White House with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring for his work with budding high school student engineers.
The award, given out by the National Science Foundation, recognizes those who make outstanding contributions in mentoring individuals in groups that are typically underrepresented in the math and science fields, such as minorities and women, according to the National Science Foundation Web site.
The 11 winners visited the White House, met with President Bush and received the awards during a three-day ceremony in Washington, DC in mid-Nov. The National Science Foundation also held discussions with the recipients to talk about ways to improve math and science education.
"It was a very nice dialogue, a very nice experience," Lee said.
The chair of the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering (CSEE), A. Scott Weber, nominated Lee for the award.
"It was a great excitement - something I wasn't seeking," Lee said. "When I was dean, I did the things I was supposed to do."
Lee has spent much of his career working to expose high school students to the possibilities of engineering.
The professor, a native of China, attended the National Taiwan University as an undergraduate. He received his master's and doctoral degrees from Lehigh University.
Lee began working at UB in 1961 and served as dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences from 1977 to 1995. During that time, he formed the Buffalo-area Engineering Awareness for Minorities program (BEAM), which educates area high school students about engineering.
"I've always felt there was a need for high school students to understand engineering," he said.
Lee found that many incoming freshman had misconceptions about the field.
"They never had exposure to what engineering is. They came in with the wrong impression," he said.
According to Lee, many high school students would be capable of becoming engineers if exposed to the right information and opportunities.
"Not everybody can be an engineer, just like not everybody can be a painter," Lee said. "But there are kids who can be engineers but never had the opportunities."
BEAM also helps Buffalo city teachers and guidance counselors better understand the field so they can properly advise students.
"(BEAM) is a model for other regions to follow, so you can do these things in a sustained way," Lee said.
Lee was instrumental in forming a summer program that allows undergraduate students to meet area industry officials and participate in internships.
"The effort for mentoring really becomes a team effort. It is a big consortium," he said. "This award is really not for me. It's for this whole consortium."
Lee is also involved in the UB Greater Regional Industrial Technology Program (UB GRIT) and was named director of the program in 1994. According to Lee, a team of faculty members from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences work with small businesses to help them expand and develop. Students also have the opportunity to become involved in the project.
"(UB GRIT) gives students the opportunity to work with (the businesses) and learn that aspect of innovation," he said.
Lee explained that one of the challenges of mentoring is expanding efforts to reach as many students as possible.
"We all have individual successes (as mentors)," he said. "The challenge is, how can we take these successes and expand to a regional effort."
According to Lee, it is the responsibility of universities to expose younger students to opportunities in areas such as engineering.
"Universities have to take a leadership role," he said. "The University has the responsibility, and I'm glad UB did it."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
