Since 1995 Women of Color Technology Awards Conferences have linked corporate employers, government and non-profit agencies, and educational institutions to highly qualified minority female students and professionals in science, health care, technology, and biomedicine, through the conferences' workshops, seminars, Diversity Expo, and the prestigious Women of Color Award Ceremonies.

Students who attended the conference were able to attend meetings on various issues affecting minorities in technology and research. Meetings with company representatives and individuals from research institutions provided the students with different views of how their educations can be applied once they graduate.

This year's Women of Color Research Sciences & Technology awards conference was held in Nashville, Tennessee at the Opryland Hotel. Elizabeth City State University's Dr. Linda Hayden received the Emerald Award for her work in promoting university research. She is the current director of the ECSU Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research (CERSER), ECSU Nurturing ECSU Research Talent (NERT), and ECSU/NASA Network Resources Training Site (NRTS).

Seventy-two students, faculty, and ECSU Alumni attended the event.

Women of Color Awards Conference
Danielle Graves, ONR Research Student

GEM was founded in 1976 with a purpose of offering opportunities for underrepresented minority students to obtain M.S. degrees in engineering and Ph.D. degrees in engineering and the natural and physical sciences through a program of paid summer internships and graduate financial assistance. Ms. Jones stated that this program is important because minorities are highly underrepresented in the fields of math, science, and technology. She informed us that some of the benefits of obtaining Master’s and doctoral degrees include higher starting salary, greater ability to earn independently, competitive career advantage, greater choice of work, greater nobility, and fortified self-confidence. She also said that you are identified as a leader which allows you a seat at the table to find solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing problems in science and engineering which include: healthcare, the environment, transportation, communication, and civil infrastructure. GEM has over 40 company members and a host of member institutions. Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation, Bayer Corporation, Dupont, and Pfizer Global Research & Development are a few of the company members. University members include the University of Virginia, North Carolina A&T State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, University of Maryland, College Park, and Florida A&M University.

In order to “master our future,” Ms. Jones gave us three essential elements that are vital in our journey to success. She first said that we have to “dare to prepare.” We need to know what we want for ourselves in five and ten years and how we plan to achieve it. We have to take time to read, understand business, have the right people in our corner, be grateful, and identify challenges and opportunities. We also have to protect our assets including our health, family, name, and good employees. We also have to learn to negotiate, and be on time.

The second element is “practicing what you preach.” She said that “Integrity is vital,” and you have to be “impeccable with your word.” Communication is an art and the key to selling yourself and your ideas. The third element is love. She said that “love has a three-fold purpose: spiritual, personal, and relational.” You have to love your business because it helps you protect your assets, understand your business, and exemplify mutual respect. The major point made here is that preparation is the key, and balance is essential.

Women of Color Awards Conference
Karitsa Williams, ONR Research Student

The most interesting part of this trip was the Emerald Awards banquet. It was like I was at a real awards ceremony on television. The tale of the Emerald was quite interesting in the way that it was brought about. Mr. Bill Grimmet told the story and had good public speaking skills and performance style. All of the award winners told a life story of how they made it to where they are today. Their stories were so heart touching and real. Their stories made me want to be like them and one day receive an award too.

Women of Color Awards Conference
Joanelle Baptiste, ONR Research Student

    It all started on Thursday, September 11, 2003 at 9:35 p.m. The students of ONR Undergraduate Research program was about to endure the longest bus ride ever. However, we knew that each milestone we rode was worth it because at the end of our trip, we would have a rewarding and beneficial experience. We were heading to Nashville, Tennessee to attend the outstanding Women of Color Exceptional Achievement in Research Sciences and Technology Conference.
It is not a walk in the park to be a well-respected and notable figure in the highly competitive world of research science and technology. If you are a woman, it is twice as hard. The Women of Color in Research Science and Technology Awards Conference recognizes and honors senior level women who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and technical skills in and beyond the workplace. These outstanding women are not just honorees but role models who are setting the pace to many young ladies who shy away from careers in technology and science, believing that these fields are only for males.
    The first seminar of the Conference that I attended was entitled "Master Your Future". The universities that were in attendance were: Virginia State University, Morgan State University, Coppin State University, University of Maryland at College Park, and none other than Elizabeth State University. The Director of the Career Communications Group, Inc. (CCG), Mr. Watson, gave the welcoming remarks. He gave some insight on how to measure a missed opportunity. He stated that the conference should not only be attended for pleasure purposes but to network and gain an invaluable experience. Ms. Dionetta Jones of the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (GEM), Inc. was next on the agenda. Her presentation was remarkable. It was geared specifically towards minorities for the prime reason being that there is a lack of us in the field of engineering. She gave a few pointers on the benefits of a higher education, which were: increased compensation, higher starting salary, greater ability to earn independently, and greater mobility just to name a few. She also spoke on journeys to success. In order for one to get to where they want to be, they must dare to prepare and practice what they preach. Communication is not just talking but also effectively getting your message across according to Ms. Jones. Financial support for GEMS was included in Ms. Jones closing remarks. GEMS financial support includes fellowships and internships. The summer internship for the M.S. Fellowship brings the total value of the award to between $20,000 and $60,000, while the summer internship for the Ph.D. Fellowship brings its total award to between $60,000 and $100,000 with certain requirements.
    On day three, Saturday September 13, I attended the third session of the "Delegation and Team-building" seminar. During this seminar, a panel of five senior level women gave helpful insight and advice on how and what it takes to manage to manage, delegate, and build strong, willing, and committed teams through team- building exercises, setting targets and performance reviews, development of individuals, and appraisal training. These remarkable women were Ms. Marcia Steele of Strategic Realities, Inc., Dr. Evelyn Lewis- Director of Regional Medical & Research Specialist at Pfizer Inc., D.V.M. Gina Wilkerson-Director of Veterinary Medicine at AstaZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Ms. Valecia Maclin-Program Manager at Raytheon Company, and Ms. Cheryl Owens- Senior Vice President for Management Operations at the Government National Mortgage Association. These women gave very beneficial advice that I will take with me from here on out. Dr. E. Lewis of Pfizer Inc. said something in particular that I will never forget: "No one person can quizzle a symphony, it takes a symphony to quizzle an orchestra". What this quote is saying is that in the workplace or wherever one may be, it cannot be done alone. These women were able to tackle the most difficult level a question could have. However, one of our very own students, Carl Seward, asked a couple of tongue-biting questions. "What do you do when you're in a position where you've had no training?" asked Carl. With a little hesitation, Ms. Maclin of Raytheon Company decided to tackle the question. She said that one must be able to make decisions on the spot and have common sense skills- very simple answer but quite logical. In closing, Ms. Steele added that we must dress for success in order to feel like the best. She stated that no 'bow-wow' outfits should be tolerated at the workplace. She expressed that a 'bow-wow' outfit is when you bow in the front and in the back the guys go wow. I was filled with so much laughter-that was the highlight of the seminar. After the seminar was over, we attended the Career Fair. Some of the sponsoring agencies were NASA, Raytheon Company, MITRE, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, and the John Hopkins Hospital just to name a few. I gave out as many copies of my resume as possible.
    After lunch was over, I attended the fourth session of the leadership seminar. It was entitled "Leadership and Emerging Technologies". The first and only speaker was Ms. Judy Smith of Booz Allen Hamilton Defense Information Technology Group. Ms. Smith graduated with the first class of females pursuing an Electrical Engineering degree from John Hopkins University in 1973. Ms. Smith's discussion was very interesting primarily because she talked about a futuristic device that her team and self is planning to produce by the year 2010. A soldier at war will be equipped with this hand-held device that will help him to understand his environment and make adequate decisions in ample amount of time with the help of satellites. She also spoke on the Simantic Web, the new technology route that the Internet will take. I felt so privileged to receive free top-secret information that people pay millions of dollars for. Her presentation was so impressive. Later on that night, we attended the Women of Color Emerald Awards Ceremony where Dr. Hayden was being honored for her outstanding contribution to research science and technology.
  This conference was surely not a missed opportunity for me. I took advantage of every second. I networked and collected valuable information from the seminars and career fair. An experience like this is immeasurable. Memories like this, I will never forget!