In its important role at the intersection of AISES and federal agencies, the Government Relations Council (GRC) takes on several responsibilities. Its 150 members, all federal employees, help place AISES members in internship programs and professional jobs with government agencies, and they work with AISES College Chapters to make sure students know about opportunities to use their STEM skills in public service.
They also coordinate, and frequently participate in, government-sponsored sessions and workshops at the National Conference, Regional Conferences, and Leadership Summit. “The GRC leads the Resume Room during National Conference,” says Co-chair Marcellus Proctor, Piscataway-Conoy, of NASA. “Several agencies also deliver presentations on preparing for college, the federal government employment process, and leadership development.”
GRC members also work to identify federal funding opportunities for AISES. In addition to bimonthly conference calls, the council meets at the National Conference and during the summer in Washington, D.C., where every agency has an opportunity to host the meeting and learn more about AISES. Proctor’s co-chairs are James Daugomah, Kiowa, of NOAA, and Noller Herbert, Navajo, of USDA NRCS.
Students from fifth through 12th grades traveled to Stillwater, Okla., last April to participate in the 31st annual National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair (NAISEF). For the first time this year, NAISEF was held as both a virtual and in-person event. Grand Award winners are Victoria Dushane for science and Anna Quinlan for engineering. In May, the Grand Award winners went on to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, the world’s largest pre-college science competition, where Anna Quinlan placed third in Biomedical Engineering. Junior Division NAISEF winners are Emma Brouns (first place) and Hayden Faddis, Ava Cummings, and Olivia Mir (second-place tie). AISES is grateful to the Oklahoma State University Division of Institutional Diversity for host support, and to the many other sponsors and supporters of this important event.
For the past three years AISES has been partnering with the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Division of Energy and Mineral Development, to encourage pre-college students to create solutions to energy-specific issues in their communities through a competitive Energy Challenge. The engineering creativity displayed by the participating teams is truly impressive. This year 26 students participated, either individually or as a team, and three winners were chosen: Anna Grondolsky, Jake Keli’ikūpono Uyechi, and Joshua Parker, all Native Hawaiian. For more on the Energy Challenge, visit aises.org.
Do you or a member you know have a new academic degree, promotion, or award? Newly published book or paper? Let us share the good news — just email the Winds of Change editor kenglish@aises.org.
