Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM)

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) is a Presidential award established by the White House in 1995.  The purpose of the award is to recognize U.S. citizens or permanent residents and U.S. organizations that have demonstrated excellence in mentoring individuals from groups that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce.  Groups that are underrepresented in STEM include women, people with disabilities, underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, as well as individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds and some geographic regions such as urban and rural areas.  The PAESMEM program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). 

Nominations, including self-nominations, are invited for Individual and Organizational PAESMEM awards.  Individuals and organizations in all public and private sectors are eligible including industry, academia, primary and secondary education, military and government, non-profit organizations, and foundations.  Nominations are encouraged from all geographical regions in the U.S., its territories or possessions, particularly jurisdictions designated by Congress under NSF's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

The PAESMEM Award

Each Individual and Organizational PAESMEM awardee will receive a $10,000 award and a commemorative Presidential certificate. Awardees are also invited to participate in an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. which includes meetings with STEM education, research, and policy leaders.  Up to sixteen awards may be made from the nominations received by June 5, 2013.