Students Making Education Work: Two Seniors Receive STEM Science Grants
| Sabrina Salmela | | Elizabeth Suos |
(October 2, 2009) -- Thanks to a $586,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Colleges of the Fenway members - Emmanuel College, Simmons College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Wheelock College - launched a STEM Scholars Program. Nine first-year students were selected to begin the program this fall. The program is aimed at supporting local students committed to majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) at the Colleges of the Fenway and provides each recipient annual scholarships of up to $6,500. The scholars participated in intensive academic preparation activities in August, and will receive academic support and mentoring from faculty throughout their four years.
According to Michael Berger of Simmons College, assistant professor and the principal investigator for the NSF grant, "We really want these students to succeed. In addition to career planning assistance, mentoring and peer support, COF STEM Scholars will have the opportunity to conduct summer research or participate in internships at universities or companies in the Greater Boston area. COF STEM Scholars will also meet regularly throughout each semester to share insights and to learn about nontraditional careers in STEM related fields, particularly those in demand in the local area." The students reconvened on September 24th for a kick off dinner with faculty, academic administrators and their parents. The keynote speaker, Dan Worth from the National Association of Environmental Law Societies, praised their interest in the STEM fields, noting the tremendous opportunities and responsibilities that scientists, engineers, technologists, and mathematicians have to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing the world related to climate change and sustainability. The COF scholars were selected based on their academic strength, intent to major in one of the STEM disciplines, and demonstration of financial need. Congratulations to Erina Depina and Nicole Robinson from Emmanuel College, Sabrina Salmela and Elizabeth Suos from Simmons College, Amaly Liz Miranda, Simao Monteiro and Jackie Weng from Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Caroline DeJesus and Danielle Vaughan from Wheelock College. A second group of COF STEM Scholars will begin in Fall 2010.
The Colleges of the Fenway (COF), a non-profit organization of six small colleges in the Greater Boston area with a combined undergraduate population of nearly 12,000, has a longstanding commitment to working with and providing opportunities to the residents of greater Boston.
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