The award aims to shine a light on successful projects and programs that inspire students from all profiles and backgrounds to study and succeed in engineering. The long-term goal of the award is to increase diversity among the global community of engineers so that the engineering industry reflects the diversity of the communities it supports, with diversity recognized as a driver for innovation and growth.

Oakes was recognized during a webinar in December 2020.

“EPICS receiving the GEDC award is a reflection of the quality of support we get from Purdue, at both the University and the college levels,” Oakes said.

GEDC is part of the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES), founded in 2006 to connect the world’s engineering education societies and leverage collective strengths to improve engineering education worldwide.

Founded at Purdue in 1995, EPICS is a service-learning design program facilitated by the College of Engineering.