CEF Celebrates the Class of 2024
On June 7, 2024, Chicago Engineers’ Foundation honored the high school and college students named as 2024 Incentive Award recipients. At this year’s event, the Chicago Engineers’ Foundation presented more than $100,000 in awards to Chicago students.
More than 140 guests including students, educators, engineering professionals, alumni, and friends attended the Award Celebration, held at the Union League Club of Chicago. Betsy Ziegler, the Chief Executive Officer of 1871 served as the evening’s keynote speaker.
Ms. Ziegler spoke about the fact that the CEF Scholars are part of a legacy of excellence, and that their hard work earned them a place in the Chicago Engineers’ Foundation community. She painted a picture of the world as she sees it today using a series of images to talk about how current technologies are ever-changing and that “today is the slowest day you will have for the rest of your life.” Ms. Ziegler further said the pace of technology acceleration becomes faster each day. She encouraged the students to be part of the changing face of technology and that with people + technology working together, all problems can be solved in this rapidly changing and complicated world. Betsy Ziegler summarized her remarks by letting each CEF Scholar know that “the future is bright because of all of you!”
The 2024 Incentive Award Celebration was generously sponsored by:
A highlight of the evening was remarks presented by four Incentive Award recipients. Students were selected from each class, to share their career aspirations and inspirations, as well as ways they are helping to empower fellow students. The Class of 2024 are Chicago students pursuing engineering careers. They are graduates from public, private, parochial, and charter high schools throughout the city. Many commuted across Chicago daily to attend their high schools, from neighborhoods on the south, west, and north sides, as well as many suburban towns.
More than 30% are the first generation in their family to attend college. The average GPA among all of the recipients is 3.7. Further, among the high school recipients the average of their community service hours is 220!
Incentive Award recipients are studying many facets of engineering in college ranging from civil and mechanical to biomedical, aerospace, and computer science. They are attending some of the finest engineering schools in the country from local universities to programs nationwide. Incentive Award recipients are in engineering classrooms across the country and represent some of the best of the next generation of engineers.
Incentive Awards are made possible by individuals, families, professional associations, and companies committing to fully fund awards for the recipients. Some sponsors support annual awards for different students each year, and others may follow specific students through 4 years of study. The sponsorship program grows each year, and Chicago Engineers’ Foundation is honored by every partnership. Many thanks to the 2024 Award Sponsors!
