(Left to right) First Row:  Community member Randell Henry, lead Magnet teacher Beatrice Arvie of Scotlandville Magnet High School, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board President Barbara Freiberg, school alumnus Elaine Thomas, school alumnus Jeanette Harrison, parent Parthenia Rheams, Rick Demint of AT&T, Evelyn Kirk of The Lion’s Club, Denise Burcham of ExxonMobil, school alumnius James “Houseman” Johnson, Second Row: State Rep. Dalton Dalton Honoré, Ron Crum of Jacob Engineering, Principal Howard Davis, East Baton Rouge Parish School System Superintendent John Dilworth, school alumnus Joe Jenkins and Assistant Superintendent of High Schools David Phillips.

The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) announced Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge will receive $7,000 in funding to support the school’s Academy of Engineering Program (AOE). Support for the AOE program is made possible by AT&T’s contribution of $150,000 to NACME. Of this contribution, $50,000 supports NACME’s mission to provide access and opportunity for talented, underrepresented minority students who require financial assistance to pursue engineering study. 

Scotlandville Magnet High School is one of only 10 schools selected from across the country for this support because of its commitment to enhance learning for minority students on the pathway to higher education and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers.  The AOEs are small learning communities that provide high school students with the science, technology, math and engineering skills required to succeed in college engineering study.

In addition to the direct financial support, Scotlandville Magnet High School students will be eligible for a wide range of resources available through NACME, including scholarships and supplementary engineering awareness and career preparatory materials.

 “I am so proud of the work the students at Scotlandville Magnet are doing in the field of engineering,” said State Rep. Dalton Honoré. “It is crucial that we provide opportunities for our local students to succeed, and Scotlandville’s Academy of Engineering program is a great way to open doors to the future for these students.”

“At Scotlandville Magnet High School, we are committed to preparing our students as they pursue careers in science, math, engineering or other technical fields,” said Beatrice Arvie, Scotlandville High School’s program director and lead Magnet teacher. “This funding will allow us to reach more students as we prepare them for their very bright futures.”

“AT&T has a proud history of supporting education and we are excited to hear about the great things happening at Scotlandville Magnet,” said Rick Demint, AT&T External Affairs regional manager.  “Encouraging our local Baton Rouge students to pursue an engineering future will mean great things for both our area and our state.”

“The Academy of Engineering model represents a research-based, promising practice in pre-engineering focused on increasing the representation of successful African American, American Indian and Latino women and men in engineering education and careers. AT&T has been a national leader in demonstrating a corporate commitment to enhancing high school success and workforce readiness. AT&T’s support for the 10 urban high schools in the Academy of Engineering model is a palpable example of the strength of this commitment and makes a compelling case for the efficacy of private-public partnerships in advancing STEM education,” said Dr. Irving Pressley McPhail, NACME President & CEO.

This support is part of AT&T Aspire, AT&T’s four-year, $100-million commitment to education.  Launched in 2008, AT&T Aspire is one of the largest-ever corporate commitments to address high school success and workforce readiness.

About AT&T
 
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T ¦DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. 

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