Press Releases

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 15, 2023— Santa Clara University and the Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) program, for the second year in a row,  received the 2023 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). Santa Clara University will be featured, along with 78 other recipients, in the September 2023 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. 

“We aim for the Summer Engineering Seminar program to help motivate students to further their education and find a career within one of the many engineering fields. It is inspiring to see so many young students from diverse backgrounds interested in all engineering has to offer. We need everyone at the table to solve the critical issues of tomorrow,” said Elaine Scott, Dean of the School of Engineering.

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected Santa Clara University and the Summer Engineering Seminar program because of their efforts to provide underrepresented high school students access to engineering courses and programs through a five-day on-campus immersion summer experience. The program offers participants an opportunity to delve into the diverse prospects of a career in engineering. Participants engage in special workshops, complete their own engineering projects, and immerse themselves in outside-of-class aspects of Santa Clara University through afternoon and evening recreational activities. Throughout the week, attendees take part in entry-level workshops covering various engineering fields, guided by our engineering faculty.

“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 2023. 

For more information about the 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award and INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, visit insightintodiversity.com.

About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit, Catholic University in the epicenter of Silicon Valley, infusing ethics and social consciousness into a rigorous cross-disciplinary education for its nearly 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.