"It is an honor and a privilege to receive the 2009 Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) for Community Service.  As the first African-American President-Elect of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), I have worked tirelessly to leverage my other board positions with Patriots Technology Training Center (PTTC) and New Hope Academy to invest and expand the environment of change for society's greater good locally, nationally, and internationally," said Smith.
 
Smith has also been the past recipient of several other awards and commendations including the "Action Hero's Award" from the Missouri Association of Community Task Forces, the "TeleCon's Best Live Special Event Satellite Broadcast Award", and the "ELLI (e-Learning Industry) Award".  In 1993, he received a Letter of Commendation from then New York Mayor David Dinkins in recognition of his efforts supplying emergency programming during the asbestos crisis in New York City schools. He has been featured and profiled in several national magazines including US Black Engineer, Black Issues In Higher Education, Black Enterprise, and other noteworthy publications.  
 
"I am always impressed with the caliber of candidates nominated for this prestigious national awards program. Their contributions and commitment to our clients, firm, and the different volunteer organizations in which they are involved brings recognition not only to them, but our firm as well," said Patrick F. Peck, senior vice president, Booz Allen Hamilton.
 
Smith, the in-coming President-Elect of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), was also the first African-American elected to its board of directors.
 
In his work with USDLA, Smith has been instrumental in launching "National Distance Learning Week" and USDLA's Distance Learning Today quarterly supplement. The purpose of "National Distance Learning Week" is to generate greater awareness and appreciation for distance learning while recognizing leaders and best practices in the field.  Distance Learning Today appears in USA TODAY in the top-tier markets for distance learning, and is read by 3.5 million goal-oriented professionals who recognize the value of distance learning, education, and training.

"Reggie Smith personifies the quality leadership needed in today's world.  His commitment to his family, career and community are at the highest level of excellence," said Dr. John G. Flores, Chief Executive Officer, USDLA.