NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Teams from the Wayne State SEMAA project participate in building and programming robots while at the 2011 National Society Black Engineers Engineering Design Challenge. Image Credit: NASA

NASA Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy students from Wayne State University in Michigan successfully competed in the National Society of Black Engineers’ Team Engineering Design Competition and Exhibition held during their 37th Annual Convention, Engineering: The Gateway to Success, from March 23-27, 2011. SEMAA students, coaches and adult chaperones traveled to St. Louis, Mo., to engage in the exciting competitions, workshops, tours, fairs and exhibitions.

Two of the four NASA SEMAA teams placed first and third out of 50 teams in the hands-on, team-oriented, collaborative activities that involved mathematics, physics, mechanical engineering, software engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and industrial engineering.

The teams also excelled in the NSBE convention’s new airplane competition, the Pre-Collegiate Initiative Boeing Flight Competition. From their past experience, SEMAA students were well prepared because similar airplane models are designed and flown as outlined in the NASA SEMAA Curriculum Enhancement Activities. The NASA SEMAA students were able to showcase

The Wayne State SEMAA team constructs robots during the 2011 National Society of Black Engineers Engineering Design Challenge in St. Louis, Mo. Image Credit: NASA

their STEM talents and knowledge at the convention and are looking forward to next year’s events.