Bagayoko, Timbuktu Academy among Banneker Award recipients
 |
| (left to right) Master of ceremonies Kojo Nnamdi, Diola Bagayoko, Bill Cosby, and award presenter Bonia Saunders. |
Southern University Distinguished Professor of Physics and Director of the Timbuktu Academy Diola Bagayoko is one of five recipients of the 2007 Benjamin Banneker Legacy Award.
The award was presented by comedian, actor, author, and philanthropist Bill Cosby at the 2nd Annual Legacy Awards Gala held November 7 at the J. W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D. C. Cosby also served as the keynote speaker for the event sponsored by the Benjamin Banneker Institute.
The award recognizes individuals and institutions that have increased the involvement and achievement of African-American students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
“We consider this award as a national recognition of our efforts and results. We take such an award as an appeal to redouble our efforts. Hence, we will continue to earn it,” said Bagayoko, who praised the work of Timbuktu co-director and chemistry professor Ella Kelly, who also attended the event.
The Timbuktu Academy was established in 1990 to mentor undergraduate physics majors. It is named after the former University of Timbuktu in Mali, West Africa. The academy provides early college enrollment programs for high achieving high school graduates majoring in engineering, physics, chemistry, computer science and mathematics. There are also support, mentoring and research participation programs for undergraduate students and educational outreach programs for grades K-12.
The Banneker Institute was founded, with the support of Congress, to combine many of the existing initiatives addressing low performance and participation rates of African Americans in science and math related studies and professions. The institute works to identify, create and/or support pilot projects designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the most promising approaches.
|
