A-MAN, Inc. (www.aman.org) INTERNATIONAL STEM SCIENCE & CONFERENCE CENTER
(STEM) Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics – Educational Academies
A-MAN was founded in 1991 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit public benefit corporation serving low-to-moderate income boys and girls across the nation. Its mission is to utilize science, technology, engineering, and math-related projects as a motivational tool and advance the educational achievement and the intellectual and career development of African-American, Latino and other minority students in grades K-12. A-MAN’s purpose is to increase the number of African-American, Latino and other minority students who are excited about and who enter the fields of science, technology, health and business. Approximately 1,300 students are served annually, and over 10,000 students have participated in the program.
A-MAN seeks partnerships with individuals and institutions who share the vision to increase diversity in STEM interest fields. OASIS’ hosting lectures at the A-MAN Center is an example of such a partnership; we look forward to hosting further events there as well as other involvement with A-MAN’s education efforts.
NASA and other prepared curricula make up the informal educational resources, which are combined to engage and inspire students. Volunteers from local aerospace companies and the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center have provided technical support to students’ science projects. A-MAN Role Models work with single parents and achievers.
In 2000, A-MAN expanded its education projects to South Africa. That same year, A-MAN in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center and the Aerospace Corporation established an engineering support team to assist students in essays and advanced science projects to compete in the Herndon Memorial Science Competition. Over the years, this partnership has won many awards and given the participants valuable experiences which otherwise would not be available at local middle and high schools.
In 2008, the National Society of Black Engineers established a Jr. Chapter at A-MAN. In 2010, A-MAN was approved as a Combined Federal Campaign Agency. The Ahmanson Foundation featured A-MAN in its Annual Report, “Grants in Focus”, highlighting their success in STEM-based education for inner-city youth. In 2012, A-MAN received the prestigious “After School Program Award” from the National After School programs office in Washington D.C. Former NASA Astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris is the Agency’s National Spokesperson.
Founders:
Hildreth (Hal) Walker, Jr., Board Chairman/co-founder, is a retired laser systems specialist. He led the Apollo 11 Lunar Laser Ranging Operations Team. This experiment is replicated in a permanent exhibit at the National Smithsonian Museum of American History. At RCA Corp, Hal’s early career involved the initial installation and operations of BMEWS Site 2 in 1959. His career in the aerospace industry spanned over 34 years and he was primarily involved in lasers and electro-optical (EO) technologies. Hal retired from the Hughes Aircraft Company as a laboratory level manager and later formed Tech Plus, an EO consulting group. Hal is a long-time member of OASIS.
Dr. Bettye Walker, President/co-founder, is a renowned educator and professor. She is the Educational and Research Director of the agency. A-MAN is an outgrowth of a pilot educational research project funded by the University of California at Los Angeles in 1986 on which Bettye served as principal investigator. For her dedication and contribution to education for the youth in the communities, Bettye was awarded recognition as “Woman of the Year” in 2010 by the 26th Senatorial District California State Senator Curren Price.