Future Face of Technology: Courtney Lucas (Fayetteville State University)

Fayetteville State University was introduced during a HBCU panel discussion at the 2012 BDPA Technology Conference. As such, we are pleased to introduce to one of the 'Future Faces of Technology' - Ms. Courtney Lucas! [SOURCE]

Fayetteville State University’s Center for Defense and Homeland Security (CDHS) student nominee Courtney Lucas, has been accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) CONVERGE 2.0 Program. MIT’s Converge Program was first offered in 2004 with the mission to invite a cohort of outstanding underrepresented and underserved undergraduates to the MIT campus for a fall (pre-admission) graduate preview weekend. The CONVERGE Program focuses on a select group of students in which 15 students from across the nation are given the opportunity to visit the campus during the first weekend in November. To be considered for the program, a student must be nominated by faculty, staff, or administration and meet the following criteria:

• 3.8 GPA or greater
• Multiple research experiences
• Graduating senior
• Engaging student who takes initiative

“The Center for Defense and Homeland Security was proud to nominate Ms. Lucas who has displayed her outstanding academic ability and skill,” Dr. Curtis Charles, CDHS Executive Director.

Ms. Lucas is a graduating senior (May 2013) who majors in Biology and she is a native of Fayetteville, NC. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Wake Forest University, has served as a research assistant at FSU and Wake Forest, mentors high school students, and also serves as a North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar (NC-LSAMP). The LSAMP is a competitive program, designed to prepare minority students who are underrepresented in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“I have known Ms. Lucas since she was accepted to the LSAMP program in fall 2011. During her interview for the program she demonstrated strong communication skills and her credentials reflected her unflinching desire for academic pursuit,” Dr. Daniel Okunbor.

It is wonderful to be able to share another 'Future Face of Technology' with our blog audience. Feel free to REPLY to this blog post if you want to celebrate Ms. Lucas or tell us about other people that we should be honoring in the future!