VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Wesleyan University has set aside $2 million to fund the 'Marlins IMPACT Scholarship Program,' and help low-income students enter STEM fields of their choosing.
"Even just buying a Graphite calculator alone is expensive," said Dr. Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, with Virginia Wesleyan University. "That's why we give them one as soon as they get on campus."
Dr. Gonsalves-Jackson is vice president of VWU Global Campus and is just one of the faculty members involved in this scholarship program.
She said participating students will enter the program as a cohort, and there will be three cohorts. This way, students can bond together when the studies get tough.
"Too often, students will drop once the course work starts to get challenging," said Gonsalves-Jackson. "We find that when you bring them in together and they bond together - when they bond over that three hour chemistry lab - they tend to persist."
Students may choose to enter biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, cybersecurity, Earth and environmental sciences, or mathematics. Those students will receive $11,000 per academic year, for a total of $44,000 over four years, to help cover tuition and related expenses.
This is on top of other financial aid opportunities, as each student will receive a $6,000 stipend to participate in a summer research or internship experience.
Gonsalves-Jackson said this is meant to keep kids focused on their studies, rather than looking for a summer job.
"We don't want our students to worry where their next meal is going to be during the summer months," said Gonsalves-Jackson. "It's just a small way we can support them and keep them on their chosen track."
Participating students will also receive a STEM Starter Kit, which includes an electronic tablet and that graphing calculator.
For those who choose to leave the program, Gonsalves-Jackson said they will continue to recruit for that open position so the cohort will always have 10 students per group.
Those looking to apply must demonstrate financial need through submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, and complete at least one mathematics course beyond Algebra II and four units of science in high school.
You can find more information here for those looking to apply.