Program Overview
Fitchburg State University’s S-STEM Scholarship program is funded by a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This 5-year grant project will provide financial support through scholarships for academically talented STEM students with financial need. We will also provide academic and career development support through:
- Bi-weekly STEM career seminars
- Summer internship opportunities
- Undergraduate research
- Professional and academic career mentorship
The NSF S-STEM Scholarship program initiative will recruit two cohorts of financially eligible, academically talented students from eligible STEM majors, based on criteria, such as academic talent, interest, motivation, and communication skills. The program will enhance existing efforts to support students through STEM seminars, mentorship ladders, and career-based internship and research activities, facilitating career placement in STEM fields and/or building a pathway for graduate programs and jobs of the future.
The program helps STEM Scholars successfully pursue postsecondary degrees and future careers in STEM. Through financial aid, alongside evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities, the program aims to increase recruitment, retention, student success, academic/career pathways, and graduation rates in STEM. Over the 5 years of the grant, Fitchburg State will build on its ongoing commitment to Faculty Professional Development, Student Support Services, and High Impact Practices to foster a Community of Practice focused on both mentorship and curricular improvement, a STEM career seminar program, and expanded, more student-focused partnerships for research and internships.
Program Goals
- Improve recruitment, retention, academic, and career success of domestic, academically talented eligible students pursuing STEM programs through scholarships coupled with career-related seminars, research and internship experiences, and mentorship provided by academic, industry, and non-profit partners.
- Support the full-time and transfer-in enrollment, sense of belonging, academic success, and career development of Scholars through scholarships, mentorship, community and career centered seminars, and student internship and research opportunities.
- Build institutional capacity to establish a comprehensive STEM career development program.
Application Information
Apply to an eligible STEM major at Fitchburg State University. Then apply to this scholarship when you submit the FAFSA application. We offer S-STEM scholarships to eligible first-year and transfer students enrolled in STEM majors (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Engineering Technology, and Mathematics).
Scholarships cover up to $15,000 per year of unmet financial need for up to 4 years for first-year students and up to 3 years for transfer students.
Unmet Financial Need = Cost of Attendance (COA) - Student Aid Index (SAI) - All Gift Aid (Grant and Other Scholarships)
Priority Deadlines:
First-year students: March 1 (annually thereafter)
Transfer students: May 1 (annually thereafter)
- Pursuing a major in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Engineering Technology, or Mathematics.
- Demonstrate financial need through Pell Grant Eligibility determined by FAFSA application.
- Be citizens of the United States, nationals of the United States, or eligible non-citizens admitted as refugees or lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence.
Criteria 1: Academic Talent and Potential
High School or College GPA (2.7 or higher)
High School and / or Fitchburg State or other college transcript
Faculty recommendations from high school or college instructors
Criteria 2: Demonstrate Interest, Motivation, and Commitment
Participation in activities that demonstrate interest, motivation, and commitment to STEM. Examples are listed below but applicants can choose to submit other evidence to show they meet this criterion.
- Community Service or other Service-learning participation
- After-school activities participation
- Student club participation
- Membership/ participation in STEM organization and activities and hobbies
- Other evidence provided in the Scholarship application essay
Criterial 3: Demonstrate Communication Skills
Personal essay (500 words) describing STEM education, interests, and expected career plans.
Building an S-STEM Community of Practice
The team of faculty mentors involved in the S-STEM grant project are all committed to improving their practice through participation in the Fitchburg State University Faculty Professional Development.
- Scholarship up to $15,000 to cover unmet financial need
- Opportunity to participate in the STEM Career Seminars
- Academic support
- Mentorship program
- Career development through summer internship and undergraduate research activities
- Support for academically talented STEM students with financial need through scholarships to cover up to $15,000 per year of unmet need for up to 4 years
- Opportunities to engage with other scholars in a cohort model, beginning with summer orientation
- Participation in the STEM career seminars
- Faculty, professional and peer mentorship
- Career-based internship and research activities
- Improving recruitment, retention, academic, and career success of STEM Scholars
- Addressing career opportunities for high need communities
- Preparing students for STEM careers of the future
Starting your first semester at Fitchburg State, you will be part of a cohort of scholars and attend biweekly seminars every semester. These seminars are designed to support your sense of belonging within your STEM discipline, utilizing the principles developed in the Fitchburg State University Faculty Academy. The Seminars also aim to prepare you to engage with and succeed in STEM Internships and undergraduate research.
Each year, STEM Scholars will choose a summer internship or undergraduate research activity based on their interests and STEM discipline. Those students choosing internships involving research projects and undergraduate research with Fitchburg State University faculty, will have the opportunity to present their research outcomes at various conferences, including the Undergraduate Research Conference here at FSU under the guidance of faculty sponsors.
S-STEM scholars will meet with their S-STEM faculty mentors at least biweekly. These meetings will offer a space for scholars and mentors to work together as the scholars seek out and apply to career-relevant opportunities. It is also an opportunity for scholars to receive any support that they might need. In addition, S-STEM scholars will have the opportunity to develop peer and professional mentor relationships as part of the STEM Career Seminars, Internships, and research experiences. Developing this mentorship “ladder model” offers S-STEM scholars support along each of the rungs of career development including finding their place at Fitchburg State University within a cohort of undergraduate STEM students, succeeding academically in their chosen STEM discipline, and progressing on to graduate study and employment as STEM professionals.
Project Team
Dr. Nirajan Mani
Dr. Christopher Cratsley
Dr. Nermin Bayazit
Dr. Hefei Qiu
Dr. Min Li
Dr. Ileana Vasu
Dr. Daniel Welsh
Dr. Ronald Krieser
Dr. Amy Wehe
Dr. Ana Mesquita-Emlinger
S-STEM Scholars
Ever Perez Alvarado
Isaac Emanoel Silva Bezerra
Keegan Monte Evans
Jackson Scott Goldman
Leandro Ryan (Leo) Jean-Pierre
Nathan Mupiri
Joshua Rivard
Rosalind Thegenus
Acknowledge of Support: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. 2325760
Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.