Elizabeth City – College of The Albemarle’s (COA) Virtual STEM Program received the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). College of The Albemarle will be featured, along with 78 other recipients, in the September 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Inspiring Programs in STEM Award winners were selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives. Lisa Meads, Dean of Arts and Sciences, shared, “College of The Albemarle is excited that through the use of Zoom, we can engage children and young adults across our seven-county service area in Northeastern North Carolina in interactive virtual STEM activities while planting the seed in STEM education and careers.”

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected College of The Albemarle’s Virtual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program because it engages and promotes STEM education and careers to school-aged children in their seven-county service area in rural Northeastern North Carolina through interactive, hands-on STEM activities.  COA, in partnership with the NC BioNetwork, launched virtual STEM nights in October 2020.  COA faculty members host virtual STEM nights on the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m.  Participants sign up in advance and are provided at-home STEM kits that allow them to complete interactive STEM activities alongside COA faculty while also learning the science behind the activity.  The virtual STEM nights are geared toward elementary school-age children; however, the events are fun for the whole family.  Several activities also incorporated the arts, turning STEM into STEAM.

COA’s Community STEM Outreach program is a joint endeavor between COA’s Mathematics & Engineering department and Natural Sciences department, designed to engage children and young adults in various STEM events such as virtual STEM nights, STEM summer camps, and on-campus star parties.  Regina Price, the coordinator of COA’s STEM Community Outreach, continues to explore new programs to spark an early interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics throughout the communities we serve.

“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future STEM career. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”

A call for nominations for this award was announced in April 2022.

For more information about the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award and INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, visit www.insightintodiversity.com.   For more information about COA’s STEM programs, contact Regina Price, Mathematics and Engineering Department Chair and mathematics instructor, at 252-335-0821 ext. 2417 or [email protected].

About INSIGHT Into Diversity  

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education today and is known for its annual INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only award that recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion in higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as explorations of best practices and profiles of exemplary programs. In our Career Center, readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived, and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com.