We are excited to announce the first annual SECME VEX Robotics Championship.

This event will be held on the Clemnson University Campus in Clemson SC and is open to all SECME participants.

SECME is a STEM Pre-College Program founded in 1975 as the "Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering" by the Deans of Engineering at six southeastern universities. This unique alliance of K-12 educators, universities, industry and parents was intended to resolve two pressing issues which persist today:

1. Engineering and STEM postsecondary enrollment levels insufficient to sustain our economy and meet current or projected demands of American industry and government
2. Inequitable representation among minorities and women in the STEM workforce.

The SECME mission is: To increase the pool of historically under-represented and under-served students who will be prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), thus creating a diverse and globally competitive workforce.

SECME’s primary strategy for accomplishing the mission is teacher professional development, such that teachers deliver engaging, career-relevant math and science instruction to peak student interest and improve academic performance. This teacher-centered SECME model is enhanced with the support of 37 SECME Member Universities; Empowering Parents to Excel at Parenting, or (EP)2, SECME’s parent engagement and education initiative; and SECME Industry partners. In addition to enhanced classroom learning and parent engagement, students also participate in a variety of after-school and campus-based activities and engineering/STEM competitions as part of their SECME experience. SECME National Headquarters provides all partners with technical assistance in program implementation, professional development and a clearinghouse of STEM best-practices. The outcome – a diverse pool of talented, college-ready students moving successfully through the university, corporate and government STEM pipeline.

While SECME targets underrepresented students, we serve all students. SECME programs are implemented in more than 50 school districts in 15 states and the District of Columbia, with documented success. A 2008 survey of SECME students showed that ninety six (96%) percent of SECME high school seniors, on average planned and did enroll in a four-year college. SECME African American and Hispanic juniors and seniors scored an average of 134 points higher on the SAT Math test than the national averages for the same populations. Composite SAT scores averaged 318 points higher for SECME African Americans and Hispanics.