The Ark-La-Tex Chapter of AFCEA International has awarded Mrs. Ida McMillian Smith the 2025 Science Teaching Tools Grant, which will provide supplemental equipment for the DoD STEM robotics project, Sea Perch. Earlier this academic year, Mrs. Smith was the largest recipient of Sea Perch Underwater ROVs in this region of the state. Cyber Literacy, Quest for Success, and STEM students all took part in constructing the ROVs over weeks and months. Mrs. Smith saw the potential for improvising the Sea Perch by adding GoPro underwater cameras that will promote interdisciplinary studies on the environment and ecology–information that will help students learn how to develop resource management strategies which focus on the natural resources and biological diversity within the Red River Watershed.
Mr. David Richard, Chief of Staff at Praeses and AFCEA Board of Directors member stated, “This year was particularly competitive for both student scholarships and teaching grants and your exceptional applications and accomplishments stood out from the crowd.” Mrs. Smith will be honored as a guest at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City on Wednesday, May 21, and will be featured on the Rick Rowe Morning Show on KTBS Channel 3 from 5:00-7:00 a.m.
AFCEA is a professional association that connects people, ideas and solutions globally by developing networking and educational opportunities and providing them worldwide in an ethical manner. This enables military, government, industry and academia to align technology to meet the needs of those who serve in critical areas, which include defense, security, cyber and intelligence.
As a member-based, nonprofit 501(c)6 organization, we have a long history of encouraging innovation and advancing technology to ensure preparedness and security. We officially formed in 1946, but our organizational roots trace back to the Civil War.
The association includes individual members and corporate members, and AFCEA's international regional chapter network helps members build networks, grow relationships and expand opportunities. AFCEA members and constituents include professionals in military, government, industry and academia.