Jelece Morris, a graduate student in the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech, has been named the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year (Female) for 2012. The award was presented at the Annual Golden Torch Awards ceremony held during the recent NSBE National Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year award is presented each year to one male and one female member of NSBE that have exemplified all that the NSBE mission embodies. In order to be considered for the award, a member must compile a nomination packet consisting of several recommendations, transcripts, essays, and a detailed resume. The mission of this award is to provide scholastic motivation to achieve and furthermore, serve as a tool that encourages members to continually strive for academic excellence, while developing professional skills through organization and community involvement. The award includes a $7,500 scholarship and a Golden Torch Award, as well as an additional convention travel stipend and waived registration.

Currently Morris is a member of the Black Graduate Student Association, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Society for Health Systems, and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society at Georgia Tech. While an undergraduate at the University of Florida, Morris received numerous awards including being named to the University of Florida Hall of Fame, 2011 and being the recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Leadership Award, 2011; GEM Fellow; William G. Cross Award for Outstanding Leadership; J. Wayne Reitz Scholar, 2010-2011; NSBE Fulfilling the Legacy Scholar, 2010; and ExxonMobil Technical Scholar in 2008 and 2009.