Nissan Employee Receives SAE Foundation Award for Outstanding Volunteerism
The SAE Foundation has honored Nissan employee Derek Logan with its Bill Agnew Award for Outstanding AWIM Volunteers. Logan is an engineering manager at the Nissan Technical Center North America Proving Ground in Maricopa, Ariz.
The award honors Dr. William G. Agnew for his concept for establishing the A World In Motion® (AWIM) program and recognizes outstanding AWIM volunteers for serving as stewards of their profession for today’s youth and helping to prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow through the personal exploration of the exciting world of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Logan’s roles have ranged from strategic to tactical. Since 1992, he has been instrumental in advancing the AWIM activities in Arizona and the Maricopa Unified School District in particular. For the last three years, he has led the AWIM program within Nissan. In this role he has coordinated with teachers within Nissan communities in planning sessions, organizing volunteers, and leading program activities.
“What makes Derek’s volunteerism so unique is his delivery and ability to get people to work well together. He is able to deliver the excitement and energy of engineering to SAE and AWIM participants. His style of interaction helps students and volunteers engage and remember the content being delivered,” said David Vasquez, one of Logan’s nominators for this award.
Logan brings many years of engineering experience designing rockets and developing cars and a true passion for educating young engineers and scientists into the classroom. In fact, his passion for engineering began as a college student, when he built his first Formula race car with SAE’s Collegiate Design Series™ program at the University of Arizona. “I realized it was my favorite thing in college, learning to work with a team. Now it’s about how much we can help by helping the kids,” Logan said. “We can help with their entire future.”
Logan is an invaluable volunteer. The AWIM program thrives and students continue to excel because of his efforts and support from other Nissan volunteers.
About the SAE Foundation
The SAE Foundation, the charitable arm of SAE International, encourages and increases student participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It funds awards and scholarships as well as full continuum of K-16 STEM educational programs, including A World In Motion®, F1 in Schools, and the Collegiate Design Series™. SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 148,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering.
About AWIM
SAE International’s A World In Motion® (AWIM) is a teacher-administered, industry volunteer-assisted program that brings science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to life in the classroom for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Benchmarked to the national education standards, AWIM incorporates the laws of physics, motion, flight and electronics into age-appropriate hands on activities that reinforce classroom STEM curriculum.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.