Beam Honors Five Individuals, Two Organizations

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Five individuals and two organizations have been honored by the Buffalo-Area Engineering Awareness for Minorities Inc. (BEAM) program.

Headquartered in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, BEAM is a cooperative educational enrichment program that for 15 years has helped prepare teen women and minority youth for careers in science, engineering and architecture.

Some three dozen firms and organizations and nine educational institutions are involved in BEAM's year-around programs.

€ Jean Palka of Tonawanda , U.S. Navy Recruiting Office, Special Achievement Award

€ Dominic Spano of Elma, Moog Inc., Technical Advisor Award

€ David J. Gromek of Alden, Moog Inc., Technical Advisor Award

€ Proves R. Banks Jr., of Amherst, Buffalo State College, Program Planning Achievement Award

€ West Valley Nuclear Services Co. Inc., West Valley, Industry Award

Officers elected for 1997 are president Arthur McKinnon of North Buffalo, General Motors Powertrain; Anthony Campagna of Snyder, ABC's to College Counseling Associates and Technical Societies Council, vice president; Patricia Beagle of Amherst, ATSI Inc., secretary, and Drexel Gidney of Buffalo, UB senior academic advisor, treasurer.

Marilyn Helenbrook of Grand Island is executive director of BEAM Inc.