Ten new IMMERSE in STEM scholars were selected at the end of last semester. They are starting the program this semester and will each receive up to $10,000 per year for up to three years. To be eligible, students must be US citizens, have unmet financial needs, and have an intended major or area of study in Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics. For more information about the program and eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.skylinecollege.edu/immerse/. You can also contact Professors Emilie Hein (heine@smccd.edu) or Rick Hough (hough@smccd.edu) if you have any questions.
IMMERSE in STEM helps address the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need at Skyline College. Over five years, this project will provide 90 scholarships to a minimum of 30 students pursuing an associate degree or preparing to transfer to a four-year university to complete a degree in Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics. Each student will receive support for up to three years. Participating students will benefit from a robust suite of evidence-based co-curricular services designed to enhance their persistence, degree completion, and successful transfer.
Beyond scholarships, the project also implements a transformative mentoring approach and innovative support strategies aimed at overcoming financial and academic challenges. The Cohort III scholars have already been matched with faculty mentors from the STEM division with whom they will discuss their plans and progress in their studies, build an ePortfolio, get internship advice and continue to process their hopes, dreams and struggles as STEM majors at Skyline.
Five Scholars And Co-PI Attend IMMERSE Meeting In Chicago
In November, five IMMERSE scholars and the program Co-PI hopped on a plane at SFO and traveled to Chicago for the 2024 S-STEM Scholars and PI meeting in Chicago, Illinois. Anyone familiar with Chicago might cringe at the thought of California residents braving the cold and wind of Chicago in November, but as fate would have it, the temperatures were in the low 60s with minimal wind, allowing for walking tours to The Pier and The Bean during the evening break from the meeting sessions.
Scholars were treated to keynote speakers during mealtimes as well as engaging sessions on how to get the most out of their S-STEM experience, how to connect with each other, how to make the most of internship opportunities as well as other topics. In between sessions, students were invited to poster sessions highlighting different research projects that students are participating in. Codie Lai, one of our scholars presented a poster entitled, “Investigation of the Mechanical Strength of Superconducting Cables for High-Field Superconducting Magnets for Particle Accelerators.”
This work is supported by NSF S-STEM grant award #2221696.
Article and photos by Emilie Hein and Rick Hough
