Real McCoy Awards Shine Light on Detroit’s STEM Pioneers and Future Innovators

Detroit’s brightest minds in science, technology, engineering, and math took center stage on Thursday, September 25, as the city’s STEM community gathered once again for the 13th annual Real McCoy Awards, named after prominent Black Detroit engineer Elijah McCoy, who invented the automatic engine lubricator. The awards were presented by DTE Energy to honor trailblazers whose achievements are shaping industries and inspiring the state’s next generation of innovators. 

For more than a decade, the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) has paused each fall to celebrate the scientists, teachers, engineers, and visionaries who are pushing Michigan’s STEM landscape forward.

The black-tie ceremony, emceed by Orlando Bailey, executive director of Outlier Media, drew a cross-section of educators, business leaders, parents, and students who came together not just to celebrate individual achievement but to underscore the critical role STEM plays in Detroit’s future.

This year’s honorees reflect the depth and diversity of STEM careers in Michigan, from medicine and teaching to technology and finance. Each awardee was nominated by peers, DAPCEP staff, or community members who recognized their impact.

2025 Honorees

• Dante Crockett, Chief Engineer at Ford Motor Company, received the Alumni Award, honoring a DAPCEP graduate whose career reflects the organization’s mission.
• Curtis L. Ivery, Ph.D., Chancellor of Wayne County Community College District, received the Arthur Haman Wondermaker Award for his long-standing commitment to education.
• Lenette M. Jones, Ph.D., RN, FAHA, Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, was recognized with the Science Award for her research and mentorship in the health sciences.
• Crystal Brown, CEO and co-founder of CircNova Inc., received the Technology Award for her leadership in tech entrepreneurship.
• Regine Beaubeouf, PE, CEO of American Roads and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, was honored with the Engineering Award.
• Leslie Rorie, CFO of LAFCU, earned the Math Award for her leadership in financial strategy and innovation.
• Tisa M. Johnson Hooper, M.D., a physician with Henry Ford Health, received the Medicine Award.
• Rosemary Williams, a teacher with Southfield Public Schools, was recognized with the Teacher Award for her work inspiring the next generation of learners.

Beyond celebrating professional accomplishments, the Real McCoy Awards also highlighted the promise of Detroit’s young scholars. The Jr. Real McCoy Awards were presented to students who have excelled in DAPCEP’s rigorous STEM programs.

These honorees, described by the organization as “emerging changemakers,” represent the curiosity, resilience, and drive that will shape Michigan’s future workforce, such as 11th grader Sena Segbefia at Cass Technical High School.

Sena participated and completed the DACEP program during the summer camp and was awarded for excelling in math.

“I’m interested in science because I would like to go into bioengineering, or some type of engineering that involves science or chemistry, and doing the summer camp in-depth, let me know more of what I would be going into if I were to go into that career field,” Sena said.

“So I’m excited that not only did I finish the summer camp and learned more, but getting the award lets me know that I got what I needed from the program.”

For Michelle Reaves, executive director of DAPCEP, the evening was about more than recognition; it was about representation.

“Our overall mission is to make sure that every young person is excited and prepared for whatever the next STEM profession is. We achieve this through all the hands-on activities,” Reaves said.

“We have them (students) on the college campuses, making sure that they understand what’s next and what’s needed, and that they have these opportunities available to them, so they are prepared.”

That message has anchored DAPCEP’s mission since its founding in 1976. Created to address gaps in access to STEM education for underrepresented youth, the nonprofit has grown into one of the nation’s leading pre-college STEM organizations.

Today, DAPCEP serves nearly 16,000 students across Southeast Michigan each year through Saturday courses, summer programs, and partnerships with universities and corporations. Its alumni base exceeds 80,000, with a near 100 percent graduation rate and a balanced female-to-male ratio, a rare feat in STEM.

The urgency behind DAPCEP’s work is clear. As industries from automotive engineering to data science face shortages of diverse talent, programs like DAPCEP are seen as critical to Michigan’s long-term competitiveness. By exposing students early to STEM pathways, fostering curiosity, and connecting them with role models, the organization equips young people with the tools they need to thrive.

Corporate partnerships play a key role. DTE Energy, which has sponsored the Real McCoy Awards for years, has emphasized its commitment to nurturing local STEM talent. The utility’s backing underscores a recognition that the state’s economic health depends on homegrown innovators who can lead in energy, medicine, technology, and beyond.

The Real McCoy Awards are more than an annual gala; they are proof that people who look like the students, come from their neighborhoods, and share their dreams are thriving in fields that once seemed out of reach.

By pairing recognition with inspiration, DAPCEP continues to remind Detroit and Michigan that innovation isn’t just happening elsewhere. It is being built here, by leaders and students alike, and the future of STEM is closer than they might imagine.

“This is a time where we celebrate STEM professionals that are doing great things in their field of work, as well as our students who are doing great things in their classrooms,” Reaves said.