President Clinton Honors Mentoring Award Winners

Picture of President Clinton awarding a DO-IT mentor to a panel.
President Clinton awards DO-IT mentor.

The University of Washington was honored for the second year in a row with Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. DO-IT won this award in 1997. This year award-winners included Dr. Aubrey Gorbman, retired UW professor who continues to mentor young researchers. The UW Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program won a mentoring award as well.

Sponsored by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science and Technology Council, this award recognizes outstanding programs for mentoring underrepresented groups in science, mathematics and engineering fields. The award includes a $10,000 grant, which DO-IT used to create a videotape and brochure titled Opening Doors: Mentoring on the Internet (available for $25 from DO-IT).

Now in its third year, the Presidential Award is an outgrowth of President Clinton's 1994 science policy blueprint, Science in the National Interest, which outlined two goals: to produce the best trained scientists and engineers for the 21st century and to enhance the scientific and technological literacy of all Americans. Addressing the winners, President Clinton underscored the importance of the encouragement mentors give to young people from underrepresented groups-women, ethnic/racial minorities, people with disabilities. "If we're serious about having the best scientists and engineers in the world," he said, "we can't leave anyone behind."