Jasmine R. Worlds, a senior in mechanical engineering, is the 2017 recipient of the Student Leadership Award from the Career Communication Group. She will accept the award Saturday, October 7, 2017, at the 2017 Women of Color STEM Conference in Detroit, Michigan.

The Student Leadership Award recognizes students who strive to make outstanding contributions to the varied aspects of science, technology, engineering, or math education and who have demonstrated an interest and commitment to volunteering and learning while impacting the academic atmosphere of their campus.

Worlds was nominated for her passion and commitment to academic and professional growth, and her willingness to lead and mentor future engineers of all ages.

She participated in the 2013 Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance in Minority Participation summer bridge program and was later appointed the Academic Excellence Chair for the National Society of Black Engineers chapter at UT. Worlds was able to implement study halls and several academic incentives, and was instrumental in providing chapter members with scholarship information and encouragement to compete in regional/national competitions.

As a sophomore, Worlds was selected to attend the 2014 Women of Color in STEM Conference. The opportunity served as a transformative experience for her as she sought to find her niche as a woman of color in engineering. Through the conference, she was able to secure her first industry experience with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. More recently, Worlds completed an engineering focused study abroad experience in London, England, in addition to an internship with PepsiCo/Frito Lay in Dallas, Texas.

Worlds has invested some of her college experience in helping other young people find a path for themselves in the field of engineering. She served as a precollege summer counselor in July 2014, and returned in July 2016 to provide a needed leadership role for a younger group of counselors through our High School Introduction to Engineering Systems precollege summer programs. Her mentorship of underrepresented undergraduate students continues with her involvement in the S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics) Minority Mentoring Program.

As a student-worker in the Office of Engineering Diversity Programs, Worlds serves as a positive role model for her fellow student-workers. She is a confident leader who contributes to diversity initiatives with attention to detail, and creativity.

Worlds has also served as the student chair for the marketing committee on the WomEngineers Leadership Council. In this role, she has been instrumental in providing a voice for underrepresented students in engineering. She worked collaboratively with faculty, staff, alumni, and senior-level industry representatives in planning the first-annual WomEngineers First-Year Welcome Dinner and a one-day conference for nearly 400 attendees.