BEYA 2009 Trip Report
MyAsia Reid, URE Research Student

On February 20th, 2009, I had the opportunity amongst 36 other student represented Elizabeth City State University in participating in the National Black Engineer of the Year awards STEM Global Competitiveness Conference From February 20th-222, 2009. Elizabeth City State University represented the NSF CI-TEAM and their contributions to Human Resource Development Component. The purpose of the conference was to gather professionals, and students together around the United States to gain more, if not some experience in many fields. The fields included science, engineering and technology, which in my opinion are the top three fields in the country that we need to survive.

One thing that I like about the conference was the Job Fair which took place in the Exhibition Hall. This job fair was not only beneficial to me but to other student who attend the conference not majoring in science, engineering, and technology. The job fair gave them more insight on something they may have not known anything about. While at the job fair I MyAsia Reid, a sophomore computer science major, and Patrina Bly a mathematics major were given an on the spot interview with Lockheed Martin Corporation because of our preparedness. We arrived with our resumes in hand, and research experience to back it up. Thanks to the Center of Excellence for Remote Sensing Education and Research under Dr. Linda B. Hayden we are given many opportunities, which prepare us for conferences.

There were also seminars and workshops for the students, in various classifications such as freshman/ sophomore, junior/senior levels, for students to learn about networking, resume building, graduate school, and internship opportunities. If a student didn’t some with a resume prepared, they absolutely left with one in their hands, which shows how important it was to be at such an event as this.

We also had the pleasure of meeting with Warren Judge, and ECSU graduate who talked to the students over lunch about the importance of keeping your grades up and above a 3.0, joining organizations on campus, and preparing for graduate school. Lee Smalls and I also had an opportunity to speak with him afterward, and take a picture with him as well.

During the conference seminars and workshops are offered that present new information on a variety of topics affecting Black technology professionals such as career advancement and diversity programs. A Career Fair brought engineers, scientists, business professionals and students together with employers.

All the student had the opportunity to attend the BEYA Stars and Strips Award Dinner, and witnessed one of President Obama’s Staff read us the letter he wrote in his absence which can be downloaded on BEYA’s website.

Overall, the conference was fun, knowledgeable, and very informative. I had the opportunity to network with students from Virginia State, Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, and any other universities. I’d like to recommend that if you didn’t have a chance to attend this year’s BEYA Conference, that you make it your duty to attend BEYA 2010.