³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ

Deadline : June 30, 2024, at 11:59 P.M. (MDT)

NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) 2023 Application - ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ/EPCC

Please read the entire program overview before completing the application.

You will need the following for the application:

•  Academic Transcripts (High School for incoming Freshmen)
• Two professional references (contact information only)

Complete the following personal statement:

Write a personal statement that describes your academic and career goals, the needs and impact this scholarship will have on you, the impact that you intend to have on the STEM field, and how this scholarship will help propel you towards that goal. (Max 3750 characters - about 750 words)

***Suggestion – Write your personal statement prior to completing the application form on a text editor (e.g., Microsoft Word), then copy/paste it into the application when prompted. ***

Program Overview

The S-STEM scholarship program provides financial support to Computer Science students with high academic potential. This program is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant Number: 2221680. In addition to the financial support, the program engages students in co-curricular activities focused on cyber-security, data science, and professional development that prepares participants for future careers.

The program targets undergraduate Computer Science students at ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ and California State University - Stanislaus. The program also funds qualified students at El Paso Community College and Merced College who intend to transfer to one of the two four-year institutions.

The S-STEM Consortium consists of the following four institutions: 

• ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ (³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ)
• California State University – Stanislaus (CSU-S)
• El Paso Community College (EPCC)
• Merced College (MC)

Benefits:

Financial Support

The S-STEM program will fund students seeking a degree in Computer Science for a period of up to four years. Funded students at ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ and CSU-S will receive an annual scholarship up to the amount shown below based on their academic level:

• Freshman: $8,000
• Sophomore: $8,000
• Junior: $9,000
• Senior: $10,000
• ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ: $10,000

Students at EPCC and MC will receive a stipend in the amount of $5,000 for one year before transferring to the four-year institution where they will continue to receive financial support in accordance with their level of study (sophomore, junior, or senior).

Professional Preparation

Funded students will have the opportunity to engage in co-curricular activities that enhance their professional skills, as well as competency in the cyber-security and data science areas. Students will be provided professional workshops, competitions, and research. Selected students will be provided travel funds to attend professional workshops, conferences, and competitions.

Program Eligibility

The eligibility requirements for the S-STEM scholarship are as follows:

• U.S. Citizenship, U.S. Permanent Resident, or otherwise U.S. National or Refugee as defined by section 101(a) or section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
• Verified financial need through the corresponding institution’s financial aid office as defined by the Department of Education rules for need-based Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA]
• High academic performance and potential as defined by the program
  • Incoming freshmen students are expected to show strong academic promise (i.e., High GPA, strong recommendations, or high standardized tests scores)

Students enrolled at a feeder community college (EPCC or MC) will also submit their degree plan and course approval form to the S-STEM program lead at the four-year institution (³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ or CSU-S) each semester before scholarship funds are released for that semester.

Ongoing Eligibility

Each selected student will work with an S-STEM advisor to develop a degree plan through graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS). The purpose of the degree plan is to ensure that funded students earn a BSCS degree within the four-year funding limit. The S-STEM program will provide funds for students on a semester basis. Funded students will be evaluated at the end of each semester to ensure that they continue to meet program requirements. To maintain eligibility, the following criteria will be verified annually:

•  Financial aid eligibility through the corresponding institution’s financial aid office as defined by the Department of Education rules for need-based Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA]
• Competitive cumulative and program GPA
• Satisfactory progress toward a BSCS degree

The S-STEM program will provide activities to support the scholars’ success. Students who fail to maintain the academic requirements of the BSCS program will be placed on probation to allow them to regain eligibility. Students who succeed in regaining eligibility after one semester will be provided with funds after the probation semester. Students who fail to regain eligibility after one semester will not receive any further funding.

Students interested in applying for the S-STEM scholarship must submit the following documents:

• Completed the S-STEM Application to follow
• Detailed résumé listing all education, employment history, and extracurricular activities
• Transcript(s) from all colleges and high schools attended

Submit documentation via email to your institutions S-STEM coordinator. Please include the subject line: [S-STEM Application] - Lastname, Firstname