Wright-Patt organization celebrates local STEM students

  • Published
  • By Diane Kofoed
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio. --  The Dayton-Wright Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) hosted a lun cheon Jan. 29 to recognize local STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) students.

The luncheon also hosted special guest speaker Lt. Gen. William Bender, chief, Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer of the Air Force.

Bender recognized students from the Dayton Regional STEM School and spoke on the importance of increasing effectiveness of Air Force core missions, cybersecurity of Air Force information systems and realizing efficiencies through innovative   information technology solutions.

Seven students from the Dayton Regional STEM School were recognized and more than 200 guests were in attendance for this luncheon.

The Dayton-Wright Chapter of AFCEA is the Miami Valley's leading professional communications, electronics, intelligence and information systems organization that has approximately 600 members.

For more than 18 years, the Dayton-Wright chapter has won numerous awards recognizing its success, and many volunteers have received significant awards from AFCEA International.

The Dayton-Wright chapter supports to the greater Dayton region through its STEM education assistance awards that encourage interest, study and careers in the scientific and engineering disciplines necessary for sustaining the national defense capability of the United States.  

Since 1990, the chapter has contributed more than $1.5 million in support of scholarships for undergraduate students pursuing technical degrees; scholastic assistance to military enlisted personnel enrolled in technical studies; Science Teaching Tools Awards to outstanding teachers; awards to Air Force Institute of Technology graduate students for research excellence; outreach programs to minority junior and senior high school students encouraging and preparing them for technical undergraduate study; sponsorship of area high school students in AFCEA's annual National High School Science Fair Award Competition; and annual contributions to its Dayton-Wright Chapter Technical Education Assistance Endowment.

Luncheons for the chapter are held monthly with guest speakers. For more information on AFCEA monthly luncheons, visit http://daytonwright.afceachapters.org/