WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwire) -- 09/23/08 -- The National GEM Consortium will honor Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and Representative Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) for their leadership and commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in increasing the number of underrepresented students receiving science and engineering degrees at a September 24 ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Non-Asian American students of color are underrepresented in the population of students seeking a degree in science, engineering or technology. Only 9 percent of students of color earned Ph.D.s in these fields although people of color make up nearly a third of the U.S. population.

Students of color graduating high school enter college less prepared to major in these fields, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and have greater difficulties obtaining bachelor's and graduate degrees.

Rep. Johnson and Rep. Reyes have sought to erase these disparities and have recognized the critical importance that underrepresented students receive degrees in science, engineering and technology in college in an increasingly global and knowledge-based world.

The National GEM Consortium is addressing the critical shortfall in the production of American engineering and scientific talent by providing much-needed financial support to underrepresented students and help them obtain advanced-level internships. GEM is uniquely positioned to address a national need for innovative technical talent.

"GEM empowers students of color to do extraordinary things by providing them access to attain an advanced degree in science and engineering. This not only increases opportunities to talented students but also ensures that the U.S. maintains its competitive edge in technology and innovation," said Executive Director Michele Lezama.

Others honored with GEM Awards for their achievement and commitment in advancing the mission of the organization include:

--  Employer of the Year William Albright, Director of Quality of Work
    Life & Benefits, at the MITRE Corporation
--  University Member of the Year Dr. Renetta Tull, Assistant Dean for
    Graduate Student Development, at the University of Maryland Baltimore
    County
--  GEM Fellow of the Year Rachel Phillips, graduate student at the
    University of Michigan
--  Alumna of the Year Gwendolyn R. Tobin, Field Technical Sales
    Specialist at IBM
--  Memorial - Mamie Phillips, Assistant Dean of Graduate College, at the
    Illinois Institute of Technology
    

"Increasing minority student access to STEM education has been a top priority of mine since I entered Congress," Congresswoman Johnson said. "Successfully encouraging students of color to pursue STEM careers not only benefits them, it benefits our country as a whole, by ensuring that the U.S. stays competitive in the global economy."

"The National GEM Consortium has been an invaluable partner in helping to expand opportunities for underrepresented minorities in the STEM fields," Congressman Reyes said. "I am honored to receive this recognition, and hope that together we will continue to make progress in our efforts to open the doors for underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in these critical fields."

GEM thanks the platinum sponsors for the 2008 Annual Meeting and Congressional Reception for their continued support: Intel Corporation and Johnson & Johnson.

About GEM

The mission of The National GEM Consortium is to enhance the value of the nation's human capital in engineering and science by increasing enrollment of underrepresented groups (African American, Native Americans, Hispanics) at the Master's and Doctoral levels. GEM is a network of corporate and university partners working together to offer opportunities to talented students to obtain MS and Ph.D. degrees through paid summer internships and full tuition assistance. Over 3,000 GEM fellows have graduated since 1976. For more information, visit www.gemfellowship.org or call (202) 457-8672.