The Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, PSPE stands for:
Protecting the License
Standards for Professional Conduct
Philanthropy
Education
Engineers, as written in the NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers, can be viewed as philanthropists:
“Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.” [1]
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Online Edition gives the meaning of philanthropy:
phi·lan·thro·py
fəˈlanTHrəpē/
noun
1
: goodwill to fellow members of the human race; especially: active effort to promote human welfare; 2
a: an act or gift done or made for humanitarian purposes; b: an organization distributing or supported by funds set aside for humanitarian purposes
Of course, engineers are not viewed as philanthropists just because they do their job, rather it is from their actions of volunteering time and resources (financial and material) to individuals and organizations that benefit from the effort.
Philanthropy
The most notable philanthropic effort of PSPE and its members can be seen in the actions of the Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization whose leadership is comprised mostly of PSPE members. The Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation (PEF) supports future engineers primarily by conducting and coordinating the MATHCOUNTS (TM) program in Pennsylvania and providing scholarships for college engineering students. The mission of PEF is:
The Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including but not limited to such purposes as:
- The conduct and support of programs for education in engineering subjects, including advanced training and education at professional levels.
- Granting of scholarships, providing guidance and by other similar means assisting students to obtain instruction and training engineering and higher education generally.
- Fostering and preserving the learned profession of engineering as a career.
- Instruction of the public and dissemination of information beneficial to mankind.
MATHCOUNTS
For more than 35 years the Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation has coordinated the state MATHCOUNTS competition. Students from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade advance from regional competitions to the state level, competing for the chance to advance to the National MATHCOUNTS competition. The Pennsylvania competition continues to be one of the top in the nation in number of participants. That is because we run quality events at the Chapter and State levels. This year I received personal comments from coaches, teachers and parents that MATHCOUNTS is a great program that provides them with materials to push the students in advanced mathematics and the opportunity to participate and be recognized in an activity they love.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Foundation has also granted thousands of dollars in much needed scholarship funding to engineering students. PEF currently administers scholarships for Undergraduate and Upperclassmen.
Visit the website www.pspe.org/about-pspe/pennsylvania-engineering-foundation/ for more details about the Foundation.
OTHER ACTIVITIES Several PSPE Chapters across the state also support regional activities including science fairs, Future City Competitions, Career Days and student mentoring
STAND WITH US! Now more than ever PSPE needs the support of members and the public to continue its philanthropic efforts. Corporate funding more difficult to get every year. For many years the MATHCOUNTS program has benefitted from grants assigned by the Pennsylvania State Legislature. However, due to the ongoing problems of passing a state budget, those funds are being held up or not available at all. However, I am pleased to say that donations from individuals do increase slightly each year!
STAND WITH PSPE Please contact PSPE if you are willing to help us by joining a committee to find new financial support or if you wish to donate directly to the Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation.
Email: contactpspe@pspe.org | Telephone: 717-441-6051
[1] NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers, Fundamental Canon No. 1, [www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics]
