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We’re proud to partner with national student organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) to sponsor scholarships and foster the engineers of tomorrow.  

We met with our 2025 NSBE scholarship and 2026 oSTEM scholarship recipients to learn more about how they got their start in the field of engineering and look ahead at how they plan to use their skills to make a difference.

Jarmaine Arwa, NSBE Scholarship recipient

Jarmaine is a second-year student studying electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University.  

His passion for engineering was sparked at a young age growing up in Kenya through disassembling and examining scrap laptops, as well as experiencing unreliable energy infrastructure causing city-wide blackouts. 

He is interested in researching microgrids to power electrical systems in both city and rural areas, as well as developing new renewable energy resources. He is also interested in embedded systems and robotics, where he is developing a home security drone model as a personal project. 

As the Finance Chair of the university’s NSBE chapter, Jarmaine leads external fundraising efforts and corporate sponsorships. The chapter has provided a sense of community, he said, and has enabled him to give back through helping to recruit companies to meet with local Boston-area high school students to present about different fields of engineering. He is also a NU Place Mentor, where he mentors first-generation and underrepresented students, and is a member of the club rugby team and the African Student Association.

Jayden Boyer, NSBE Scholarship recipient  

Jayden is a junior studying civil engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

He pursued civil engineering to serve underrepresented communities while spending time outdoors. Helping people is his calling, he said, and civil engineering offers a variety of avenues to make a difference, from clean drinking water to building infrastructure to traffic engineering. 

Jayden serves as the social media coordinator for the university’s NSBE chapter, where he promotes events, spotlight members, and share opportunities with the campus community and prospective students. He recently attended the NSBE Fall Region 1 Conference in Albany, NY and is gearing up for the National Convention in Baltimore, MD next year, helping chapter members to prepare their resumes and interview skills.  

He also serves as a Senior Counselor as part of the Massachusetts Boys State Program, a yearly week-long civic education program for high school juniors about the fundamentals of government and democracy through hands-on experience. Through this, he hosted a public speaking and debate workshop with guest speakers including mayors and congresspeople. Additionally, he is involved with the Student Alumni Association and Engineers Without Borders. 

Evie Florek 

2026 oSTEM Scholarship Recipient  

Evie Florek is a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University, pursuing a degree in electrical engineering.  

A returning non-traditional student after working in progressive political advocacy, Evie hopes to pursue a career in renewable power generation or transmission grid planning. She is currently pursuing a research project on microgrids that includes simulations and examining how to protect these smaller-scale electrical systems from cyber-attacks to maintain service to the areas these grids serve. This work is particularly exciting with a recent rise in renewable and clean energy initiatives in Virginia, she said. 

Through her university, she is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and its oSTEM chapter. She is also a founder of the Chesterfield Young Democrats, where she currently serves as Vice President and Treasurer. 

Know an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a career in STEM at an accredited university?  Learn more about our scholarships and how to apply.