On July 19, Washington State University Tri-Cities’ Empowering the Future Energy Workforce Program received the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

WSU Tri-Cities will be featured, along with 82 other recipients, in the September 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine. Inspiring Programs in STEM Award winners were selected by Insight Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives.

Insight Into Diversity magazine selected WSU Tri-Cities’ Empowering the Future Energy Workforce Program because of its student research/innovation teams that work with faculty and industry mentors to address local challenges related to climate change and its impact on disadvantaged communities. The program also partners with faculty from different departments to incorporate climate and energy related topics into their courses.

Jillian Cadwell, research associate faculty in the WSU Tri-Cities School of Engineering and Applied Sciences comments, “We are very excited to have received this recognition. With campus research focused on the environment, sustainability and clean energy, the DOE Inclusive Energy Prize has been a catalyst to develop new, and strengthen existing, industry collaborations such as our Empowering the Future Energy Workforce program to benefit the campus’ large population of traditionally underserved students in STEM.”

“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine. “We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”

A call for nominations for this award was announced in April 2024. For more information about the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award and Insight Into Diversity magazine, visit the Insight Into Diversity website.