Engineering Place’s Parry receives Presidential Award

Elizabeth Parry, a partnership coordinator with The Engineering Place, was one of 14 to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) during a visit to the White House in June.

The PAESMEM award was established by the White House in 1995 and is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

Individuals and organizations that receive the award are recognized for their role in mentoring students from elementary to graduate level, as well as early career scientists, and preparing them to be the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians. Recipients also receive a cash award of $10,000 from the NSF.

“These educators are helping to cultivate America’s future scientists, engineers and mathematicians,” President Barack Obama said. “They open new worlds to their students and give them the encouragement they need to learn, discover and innovate. That’s transforming those students’ futures and our nation’s future, too.”

The Engineering Place is the College’s K-20 engineering education and outreach program.

Parry holds a B.S. degree in engineering management with a minor in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla. She worked previously as a manager at IBM before resigning to focus on being a mom and doing engineering outreach.

“I absolutely love being an engineer, and I love that I have so many opportunities to share that passion with NC State students as well as teachers, students and parents from preschool through 12th grade,” she said. “I have been so fortunate to have had strong mentors in my life, beginning as a child and continuing to this day. So I know the importance of mentoring. To be recognized at this level is simply amazing.”

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