AMARILLO TAME HISTORY

Founded in October 1981 by concerned area industrialists and educators, the Amarillo Chapter of Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (AC-TAME) was chartered as an all-volunteer non-profit alliance of TAME, Inc. (TAME).  Local Amarillo TAME founders were concerned about low minority representation in fields of engineering and sciences.  Women make up 12.1% of the nation’s practicing engineers; by contrast, more than half the total U.S. population is female. Fewer than 9.5% of engineering professionals are African American, Hispanic American, or Native American, but these minority groups represent over 25% of the nation’s populace.  AC-TAME was established to increase the awareness of careers in math, science, engineering, and computer science among female and minority students. Participation in AC-TAME programs is open to all students regardless of race or gender.

OUR VISION

To influence the educational preparation of K-12 students, particularly females and underrepresented minorities, to improve their quality of life and provide them with viable choices for career opportunities in math, science, computer science and engineering.

OUR MISSION

To increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities aware of and prepared to pursue degrees in engineering science and computer science.

OUR OBJECTIVES

¨       Create partnerships between educators, industry, government, and families to inform and motivate targeted students.

¨       Develop programs/activities to attract and retain targeted students.

¨       Communicate the need for increased participation in identified fields by targeted students, and TAME’s role in helping to meet this need.

¨       Obtain and sustain necessary resources in order to achieve these objectives.

TAME ACCOMPLISHMENTS

AC- TAME reaches hundreds of Panhandle elementary, middle and high school students each year through a system of monthly engineering programs/activities during the traditional school year.  Each state TAME alliance works independently in its own community, insuring that local resources are maximized and local needs are met.  There has been a 101% increase in minority freshmen enrollment and a 92.8% increase in female enrollment in the 19 Texas University engineering programs since the founding of TAME, Inc. 1976.  This increase in enrollment reflects the efforts of local TAME Alliances and other groups working toward expanding the number of underrepresented minorities and women entering in and graduating from engineering degree programs.