Building Engineers for the Future
CHICAGO — The Chicago Engineers Foundation (CEF) is pleased to announce that the Primera Foundation (Primera) has made a four-year commitment, $20,000 in total, to the Chicago Engineers Foundation Award Program. CEF has awarded over $500,000 awards to aspiring engineering students in the past five years.
“We’re happy to support the Chicago Engineers Foundation (CEF) and become actively involved with the student award program,” said Erin Inman, President of the newly established organization. “The Primera Foundation exists to promote STEM education and engineering career opportunities in our communities, making this an ideal match. We want to build a stronger future for prospective engineers and the overall industry.”
CEF offers aspiring engineering students who are enrolled in an accredited four-year university a one-year award scholarship for $1,000 to $1,400 per year with about 100 scholarship awards each year. High school graduates and enrolled engineering students are eligible for up to four years of award scholarships by meeting specific criteria and award parameters and submitting their award submittal information.
“Primera’s corporate sponsorship fits well into our five-year strategic plan and will keep the CEF Award Program thriving. CEF’s focus is on three key areas: community outreach, incentive awards, and career development. We extend our sincerest gratitude to the Primera Foundation for their generous support of the CEF Award Program, “stated CEF President Erik Cempel, P.E. and former CEF Award recipient (1996).
CEF hopes more corporate sponsors will donate similarly to Primera. The 2019 Awards Dinner will be on June 13th at 5:30 p.m. at the Union League Club of Chicago. The evening program emcee will be CEF Board President Mr. Erik Cempel, P.E. Our distinguished guests include Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, IL-8th District, and George A. Smith, P.E., National Society of Black Engineers Co-founder and CEF Award Scholarship winner (1971). Mr. Smith will be receiving CEF’s first Alumni Award at the dinner for his outstanding support to the industry. Learn more about sponsorship or hosting a table of eight guests for $400 here. For more details on becoming a corporate sponsor to CEF, contact Paul Barter at paul.barter@salasobrien.com or Deborah Hodges at dhodges@goldensquare.biz.
“This is an incredible opportunity to build Chicago’s engineering community. Our goal is to reach $500,000 for awards by 2023. This goal is integral to increasing the number of students awarded each year and the monetary amount of the annual awards to aspiring engineering students in the future. Every gift counts – we look to the corporate community to reach this goal in the next four years,” stated Paul Barter, P.E., CEF Sponsorships and with WMA, a Salas O’Brien Company.
The Primera Foundation, set to launch publicly this summer, was established in early 2019 as the next chapter of Primera Engineers, Ltd.’s 30-year commitment to supporting STEM education in its communities. Founded in 1987, Primera Engineers is a full-service, woman-owned engineering design and consulting firm offering a wide range of business consulting and professional services in the buildings, transportation and utility environments. With a belief that all students should be given the opportunity to impact our world through science, technology, engineering, and math, the Primera Foundation’s impact is focused in four key areas: scholarships, technology, education, and mentorship.
The Chicago Engineers’ Foundation (CEF) of the Union League Club of Chicago (ULCC) contributes to the civic and economic advancement of its community and country by encouraging and promoting the vital profession of engineering. CEF advances its mission primarily through its Engineering Awards Program which grants educational scholarships to college-bound high school graduates of Chicago high schools or currently enrolled undergraduate college students who are pursuing engineering degrees at an accredited four-year university. For more details, visit www.chicagoengineersfoundation.org
For more information, please contact us:
Michael Driscoll, Software Engineer
CEF Chair, Awards
USG Corporation
Paul Barter, P.E.
CEF Sponsorship Committee
WMA Consulting Engineers, Ltd.
312.786.4310
Deborah J. Hodges
CEF Chair, Marketing and Media
Golden Square
- 675.6080
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