by Julian R. Lucero-Emmons
Daily Lobo
Officials of the School of Engineering's Diversity Programs unveiled its new computer and tutorial lab to representatives of several campus and national student organizations Friday.
The lab, to be on the second floor of Tapy Hall, will feature tutors, study areas and computers.
The program, formally known as the Minority Engineering Program, is meant to recruit underrepresented women and minorities in the math, science and engineering fields.
Representatives in attendance for the unveiling included members of the Hispanic Engineering and Science Organization, the National Society of Black Engineers, American Indian Society of Engineering and Science and the Society of Women Engineers.
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The program's director, Robert LaFarge, is on leave from Sandia National Laboratories where he worked on Aero-Space Engineering, robotics and software engineering.
"Working with the students and watching them succeed is the reason why I am at UNM," LaFarge said. "Helping minority students from the many that are represented at UNM is the reasoning that I accepted the position, I wanted to give a little something back for all the help and support that I received."
The program helps students by offering scholarships, tutorials, internships/co-ops, research experience and an Outreach-Summer Bridge Program geared toward helping incoming freshman with the transition from high school to college.
"Through the program I was able to meet a lot of friends and it showed me how much more work it takes to go to college and that self motivation, the ability to work hard and a positive attitude are very important," said Carlos Segura, a pre-civil engineering major who participated in bridge program.
Segura is currently working with the program's NASA Training Project and is a member of the Hispanic Engineering and Science Organization.
"Offering service to minority students in the science, ph ysics, mathematic and engineering fields and helping them make it through graduation is the reasoning for this program." said Maurice Thompson, the program's associate director.
Students said that the opportunity to work with other minorities is what is needed for success.
