Golden Torch Award Essay

Companies stool been striving to be the best in their single field of emoluments and products. Continuous improvement on the phonation of the management and commitment on the part of the employees is very important to stay competitive especially in the ever-gro drawg market of society. It is not indeed strike that companies strive to earn distinguishing marks of excellence such as world-class awards. One of the most esteemed awards that can be received is the Golden burn pillage.Unlike all other awards, the Golden Torch accolade stands out from the rest because it is not solo an award of excellence but also of justice and fairness on how the company treats employees regarding their race. Purpose and Background The National Society of Black Engineers, famously cognize as NSBE, initiated the Golden Torch honors in the year 1997. However, no exact date is military serviceable as to when the first Golden Torch Awards has been held. The NSBE is a preeminent organization that seeks to serve blacks in the fields of design and technology (2008 GTA Winners).The organization was pioneered by students of Purdue University in 1971. As the campus student organization flourished in Purdue, the charter members encourage and coordinated with different universities throughout the country offering technology courses. Thus, in 1975, the organization became national with oer 30 school chapter organizations. The congregations well-known torch symbol represents the members everlasting flower and burning desire to achieve the success in a competitive society resulting to a optimistic effect on the quality of life for people from all walks of life.The organization seeks to make an impact on society and the world by the accomplishments and contributions of its members to engineering, technology and even in the academe (NSBE Mission). The Golden Torch Award is just one of the many activities that the NSBE has imparted to the society. The said award wishes to recogniz e brilliance among African-American engineers, scientists and technologists, including organizations that have exhibited a commitment to the recruitment, retention and promotion of minorities (Siebels, 2004, p. 329).It honors different companies, institutions and individual persons who enhance their professions and the world with outstanding intelligence, competent endowment and vibrant vision at the same duration serving as role models for everyone in pass on opportunities for African-Americans (DiScipio). Furthermore, the award links accomplishments of its awardees with the dreams of college-bound students. The Golden Torch Award is bestowed every year on the annual multitude of NSBE, which seeks to raise scholarship funds for deserving superior school students (2008 GTA Winners). Award CriteriaThe mission of NSBE is to increase the mo of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and impact the community positively (NSBE Mission). It is thus understandable that the Golden Torch Award is designed to highlight the achievements of distinguished black engineers and technical professionals unneurotic with incoming college students (US Navy). Golden Torch Awardees are usually chosen by scrutinizing resumes, professional achievements, community service and other criteria depending on the type of category of the award.A team of judges consisting of professional and academic leaders both in the field of science and engineering selects the winners of the award (Black Engineers). There are no ad hoc criteria available for the award. Additionally, it will be very arduous to do so since the Golden Torch Award is but a general term for numerous awards varying in category. Nevertheless, the objectives of the NSBE can be a great estimation of the factors that determine the qualifications for awardees.The NSBE has five objectives to undertake. First is to motivate and develop student interests in the non-homogeneous engine ering disciplines. The organizations second objective is to make a great effort in amplifying the number of minority students learning engineering at undergraduate and graduate levels. The third is to tender assist to members searching for advanced degrees in the field of engineering or its related fields and obtaining professional engineering registrations.Fourth is promoting public awareness of engineering and the opportunities for minorities in their respective professions. Fifth is to act as ambassadors regarding issues and innovations that may affect careers of black engineers (NSBE Mission). These different objectives of the organization are met in one way or other in the criteria used for judging of Golden Torch Award winners. Awards given are numerous and have different titles.In the year 2000, the awards given are National Chairs Award for leading in Technology, Executive Leader of the Year, Achievement Award, biography Achievement in Academia, Lifetime Achievement in Government, Lifetime Achievement in Industry, Pioneer of the Year, capital charr in Technology, Mike Shins Distinguished Fellow of the Year, Distinguished Engineer, Diversity Leadership in Industry, Diversity Leadership in Government, incorporated Community Service, merged/Education Partnership, Executive Directors Award for Advancing Diversity, Pre-College Community Service, postgraduate School of the Year, Pre-College Program of the Year, Pre-College Student of the Year, Academic Visionary, Graduate Student of the Year, minority Engineering Program Director, Pre-College initiatory Program of the Year, Chapter of the Year, Technologist of the Year and extremity of the Year (Black Engineers). Additional awards given this 2008 include Janice A. Lumpkin Educator of the Year, entrepreneur of the Year and Corporate Diversity Leadership Award (2008 GTA Winners). Benefits of the AwardAlthough there are no clear benefits that the Golden Torch Award can offer, it still speaks of th e prestige that its awardees can possess. The honor and the promotion someways provide the awardees company popularity and quality assurance that customers and consumers seek out. The said award becomes a showcase of the high standards that a company achieves throughout its existence. It also brings about the respect and gives the image that the company not only offers quality service but also social responsibility. It can speak of the capable and proficient manpower a corporation may have. As a liaison officer of the US Navy commented, the conferral of the award can be a great opportunity to acknowledge professionalism (US Navy).Receiving the award, companies and individuals can also avail of the different programs that the NSBE offers such as academic excellence programs, scholarships, leadership trainings, professional development and career opportunities in the field of engineering and technology (NSBE Mission). Nevertheless, to think further a bit, the award has its disadvant age too. Since the NSBE is a group that uplifts racial equality, radical groups that favor racial discrimination may condemn the awardees or the companies. Terrorist groups may knock up fear to people that support such groups. Moreover, this threat is not utterly dangerous as wide as the companies and organizations have appropriate security measures at hand. Past Winners of the Award Winners of the Golden Torch Award have been credited for their outstanding performance and significant contributions in the field of engineering and technology.One compositors case is United Technologies Corp. (coordinated universal time), which is the 2005 Corporate Diversity Leadership. The corporation was appreciated for its professional achievements and commitment to diversity initiatives (DiScipio). UTC whole kit for force diversity, education and community outreach to minority groups. Competently, the company is a dealer of a wide wrap of high technology products and support services to aeros pace and building systems industries. Other past individual winners are Alan Gilkes, Sandra Baylor and contact Robinson. Alan Gilkes was awarded Distinguished Engineer of the Year in 2000 for his invention of an electronic Braille display device.Sandra Baylor was winner of the Lifetime Achievement in Industry Award, having seven patents whereas Dawn Robinson, a product manager, is the recipient of the Outstanding Woman in Technology Award (Black Engineers). This years award list is as follows Woodrow Whitlow jr. , Distinguished Engineer of the Year Rickey J. Shyne, Lifetime Achievement in Government Juan E. Gilbert, Pioneer of the Year Celia D. A. Earle, Outstanding Woman in Technology Arthur L. George, Lifetime Achievement in Industry Lorraine N. Fleming, Janice A. Lumpkin Educator of the Year Cheryle L. Peters, Minority Engineering Program Director of the Year Jonathan D. Madison, Graduate Student of the Year Michael A. Thompson, Pre-College endeavour Student of the Year(Male) Kathryn M.Daniels, Pre-College Initiative Student of the Year(Female) Pre-Freshman Program in Engineering and Science, Chicago State University, Pre-College Program of the Year Benedict Lazare, enterpriser of the Year Dow Promise Program, The Dow Chemical Company, Corporate Community Service UNCF-Merck Initiative, Merck & Co. , Inc. , Corporate/Education Partnership Texas Instruments Incorporated, Corporate Diversity Leadership Akibi Archer, Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year(Male) Wanda Eugene, Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year(Female) Barbara Michelle Nichols, Alumni Extension Member of the Year and, Edward Tunstel, Alumni Extension Technologist of the Year (2008 GTA Winners). The awardees surely received the honor due to their innovative contributions and achievements. end pointIn essence, the Golden Torch Award is an excellence in leadership and quality award. Taking this into consideration, a nomination of the Lockheed Martin Corp. is not a bad idea. Lockhe ed Martin is a leading international defense contractor that operates on aeronautics, electronics and information technology services as well as space and strategic missiles thus employing a large number of work forces from all over the world. The diversity and quality assurance that the company brings to its customers and employees is meritorious of a Golden Torch Award by the NSBE. It would not be a long time before the company is acknowledged for its contributions in the field of defense technology.References DiScipio, J.United Technologies Corporation. (2004, December 14). Society of Black Engineers honors UTC for Diversity Leadership. Retrieved May 8, 2008, from http//utc. com/press/releases/2004-12-14. htm. National Society of Black Engineers. (2008, March 3). 2008 GTA Winners Top Engineers, Corporate Supporters win NSBE Golden Torch Honors. Retrieved May 8, 2008, from http//national. nsbe. org/Default. aspx? tabid=138. National Society of Black Engineers. (2000, March 10). B lack Engineers are know for their Contributions, Winners Exemplify the Importance of Mentors. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from http//www. nsbe. org/downloads/pr/press/gta00. pdf.