The Georgia Southern University Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers will walk door to door for A Walk For Education to promote engineering to African American residents in Statesboro.

NSBE is focused on encouraging African Americans to enter STEM majors, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“We’ll be handing out information about local colleges in the area, such as Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Tech, as well as information about SAT/ACT prep and majors in the STEM related fields,” Keith Osayande, membership chair of NBSE, said.

Participants will meet at the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County, which is located at 515 Denmark St., on Saturday at 9 a.m., Osayande said.

“From there we’re going to walk through a neighborhood that is close to there and hand out all the information we have door to door,” Osayande said.

A Walk For Education is one of the organization’s annual events and the GSU Chapter of NSBE initiated their first AWFE in 2010, President of NSBE JaQuinton Braswell said.

In 2011, AWFE won Best Multicultural Community Service Project/Activity of the Year and Outstanding Community Service Project of the Year, Braswell said.

In addition to AWFE, Osayande said they would be planning more events in the future that will promote NBSE values.

“Community service is important in NBSE. It’s in our mission statement, so we want to do technical outreach stuff with people in the area,” Osayande said. “Like teaching older people how to use computers more effectively, or go to schools and promote science and math to younger kids.”

There are currently about 30 members in NSBE, and although NSBE is focused on African Americans and engineering, people of all ethnicities and majors can join the organization, Osayande said.

“With the start of the new engineering college, we are looking to grow as a chapter, and are always looking to have new members and collaborate with different organizations,” Osayande said.

“When the organization was founded in 1975, there weren’t many African American engineering students,” Osayande said. “At Purdue University a group of six engineering majors got together and formed an organization to promote getting more African Americans into engineering.”

Today, NSBE is a global organization that has chapters in South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. It is also the one of the largest student-governed organizations in the country, according to the NSBE website.

The organization’s mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community, according to their website.

NSBE meetings are held every Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Russell Union, Room 2048.

Anyone who wishes to participate in A Walk For Education must contact Osayande to RSVP.