STEM Education & After School Programs
STEM EDUCATION & INNOVATION (STEMEIC)
CAMERON WEAVER SCHOLARSHIP
As a young black boy from Oakland, CA, Cameron Kyre Weaver dreamed of becoming an engineer, a dream fostered by the NSBE Jr. Chapter in New Mexico. This chapter not only engaged him but also stoked his ambition. He discovered his voice and confidence through afterschool interactions with friends, mentors, and volunteer STEM college students.
Despite having an IEP, which barred him from joining the Math Club or Robotics Club, he learned to advocate for himself. NSBE Jr. provided him with opportunities to participate in activities that reinforced his engineering aspirations. His passion led him to enroll in STEM summer camps starting in the 9th grade.
He independently raised funds to attend summer STEM camps at Purdue, Cameron Kyre Weaver's first NSBE Jr. trip to Germany in 2006 was a transformative experience that profoundly impacted his life and connected him with fellow engineering enthusiasts. His dedication to school, combined with good SAT scores and volunteer work, earned him a spot at Purdue off-campus.
His joy was palpable. Although Cameron passed away in 2013, his STEM legacy lives on through my nonprofit, STEM EIC, which offers afterschool programs to children in public housing. These programs inspire them to look beyond their current circumstances, mirroring the influence NSBE Jr. had on Cameron.
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of his passing, I established the Cameron Scholarship Fund, which aims to provide at least two scholarships annually to public housing residents pursuing STEM fields.
