Somerset Community College receives National Science Foundation grant

Somerset Community College has received a $2 million S-STEM grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant award will go toward making enhancements to the college’s Mathematics and Science Scholar Excellence (MSSE) Program, which awards scholarships to students in mathematics, biology, engineering, chemistry, and physics, as well as creates an involved community for students studying these fields.

According to an article on Somerset Community College’s website, April Kilgore, who is a Professor of Biology and the Associate Dean of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, was quoted as saying of the funding, “This grant will support up to 44 students annually, a remarkable increase from our previous grant that supported up to 10 students each year. We are thrilled to continue providing financial support to our STEM scholar students, and we look forward to seeing the growth these scholarships will foster.”

Of the new funding from the NSF, 63% will go directly toward last-dollar scholarships for students. These scholarships will supplement whatever other funding students receive, covering the remainder of tuition costs and eliminating barriers to education. When allocating the scholarships, students with high financial need as well as academic talent will be prioritized.

This grant from the NSF seeks to enhance the opportunities students in rural communities have to pursue higher education, as well as increasing rural STEM workforces.

Debra House, who serves as a Professor of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy, said, “We are so excited about the renewal of our S-STEM grant and the potential it has to reach more students. Our MSSE community has grown over the past three years, and this renewal will allow us to expand the program even further. I look forward to providing more scholarship assistance to students by welcoming them into our S-STEM group at SCC.”

The MSSE program also aims to build a community for students studying STEM subjects with monthly meetings taking place on campus for students to grow and support each other in their studies. Additionally, students in the program will have the opportunity to take part in college visits and community service, and participate in the Math and Science Club.

For more information about Somerset Community College, visit the school’s website.