Cal Poly’s NSBE Chapter Takes Top Honors at 50th National Convention
Cal Poly’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) won Small National Chapter of the Year award at the organization’s largest-ever convention, recognized for its exceptional resilience and innovative programming among chapters with fewer than 30 members.
The award was presented at the Golden Torch Awards ceremony, a highlight of NSBE’s 50th convention in Atlanta, Georgia, which attracted 18,000 attendees to celebrate five decades of Black excellence in engineering. During the ceremony, NASA astronaut and former Cal Poly NSBE chapter member Victor Glover (General Engineering, ‘99) was also awarded a lifetime membership and received an NSBE patch for his spacesuit, in anticipation of his moon mission next year.
Chapter President Carmen Smith recounted the moment the 11 NSBE members from Cal Poly heard their name announced.
“The general theme of our reaction was disbelief,” said Smith, a fourth-year food science major. “It was a huge surprise.”
Smith and chapter Vice President Yasmina Yerima, a master’s student in biomedical engineering, encountered Glover after the ceremony. They shared a moment and took a selfie while the astronaut praised his former chapter for over 45 years of supporting the success of minority STEM students.
Established in 1978, Cal Poly’s NSBE chapter has a longstanding commitment to the organization’s mission of increasing the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.
The award marks the chapter’s third national recognition, complemented by three regional titles within Region 6, which includes chapters from several westernmost U.S. states and various international locations.
Each chapter records their activities, which the organization assesses to decide national winners, and it’s hard to imagine a more active chapter than Cal Poly’s.
“We meet every week, which I’m sure contributed to winning the award,” said Smith, who leads the club and its 17 nationally registered members.
The club offers mentorships, career fairs, guest speakers, industry tours, and various social events including beach days, bingo, axe throwing and intramural sports activities. Members also receive financial support through scholarships and incentives for good academic performance.
Although the club is supported by the Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP), its members, including Smith, come from other STEM colleges.
“I’ve known about NSBE since I was 12, and I couldn’t wait to join Cal Poly’s chapter,” said Smith, who was born in Texas and has lived in various places around California as well as Trinidad and Tobago.
During a recent meeting, Cal Poly’s chapter ofthe National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) proudly display their Small National Chapter of the Year plaque, while members flash the “6” hand signal to represent their affiliation with
Region 6.
In 2015, Smith and her family were drawn to the NSBE national convention in Anaheim, California, because of her father’s career as a Black engineer. She was inspired by the vast gathering of students and professionals from STEM fields.
“Going to the convention showed me that my dad wasn’t alone,” she said.
Smith chose to major in food science with the goal of developing new products that could positively affect people’s lifestyles. At this year’s convention, the career fair featured several food companies, offering Smith valuable opportunities to make important connections. Additionally, at her first regional conference, she received resume help that proved to be a game-changer in securing internship offers.
“The club is all about academic excellence and professional development,” she added.
Smith believes that the chapter can grow by strengthening connections with other STEM colleges and has identified launching a junior NSBE chapter as a key goal.
Allies outside the Black community can help elevate the chapter’s profile by recognizing its value as both a cultural and engineering entity.
“If a club or organization doesn’t cater to your identity, it’s easy to be overlooked,” she said. “Just acknowledge us; don’t forget about us.”
Clubs like NSBE also promote diversity across campus, helping prospective students find their community.
“People come to Cal Poly for engineering, but once they get here, we want to make it an enjoyable experience,” she added. “When I arrived on campus, I knew I’d found my home.”
The chapter’s largest expense is funding student trips to regional and national conventions, enabling connections with chapters nationwide and globally. To support the club with a donation, click here. To learn more about Cal Poly’s chapter, visit its Instagram page here.