03 Oct UW-Eau Claire wins $500,000 federal science grant
Eau Claire, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop the “Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics” scholarship program.
The initiative will provide approximately 20 students who major in science or mathematics and demonstrate financial need and academic potential with scholarships and opportunities to enhance their academic programs.
Science majors include biochemistry and molecular biology, biology, chemistry, computer science and software engineering, geology, physics, and pre-engineering.
Dr. Michael Howe, associate professor of mathematics and author of the grant proposal, said scholars will receive scholarships of up to $10,000 a year, renewable up to four years. They also will get faculty and peer mentoring, student and faculty research opportunities, and career counseling.
“That’s good news for those in high-tech industries who tell us they can’t find enough qualified Americans to fill the high-tech jobs available in this country,” Howe said in a statement.
High esteem
The ESTEAM program was funded through the NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program, which provides scholarships for academically talented students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who demonstrate financial need according to the U.S. Department of Education guidelines.
The UW-Eau Claire Foundation has committed to raise an additional $100,000 to support students who receive funding from the NSF grant. Foundation President Carole Halberg said the foundation will promote the NSF support in its fundraising efforts and will seek additional support from alumni, regional employers, and emeriti faculty.
“We will take this opportunity to ask that these sources support the ESTEAM program long after the completion of the initial NSF grant,” Halberg said.
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