ACHIEVING THE DREAM

The National Science Foundation (NSF) just awarded the College a $499,936 grant for its Achieving the Dream Scholarships (ADS) Project to improve educational opportunities for underrepresented students pursuing majors that fall into the NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program. The funding period runs from Sept. 15, 2006 to Aug. 31, 2010.

Funds to pay for college just expanded at Del Mar College for academically talented and financially needy students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields at the associate degree level.

The money from S-STEM will fund approximately 30 more scholarships per year with each student receiving an average of $3,900 for fall and spring semesters combined or $1,950 per semester. Scholarships may be higher and some lower, depending on the financial needs of each student.

Students must enroll and complete 12 hours with a 2.5 or higher GPA and have a declared major in biology, chemistry, computer science, computer information systems, electrical engineering, geology, geographic information sciences, mathematics or physics. Even high school math and science teachers are eligible for the scholarship program.

Students applying for ADS assistance must fill out the U.S. Department of Education's FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA) online in order for their financial need to be determined.

Each fall, the College will recruit students with the appropriate declared majors and through DMC's unique College Connections high school recruitment program for Achieving the Dream Scholarships.

"The College will provide additional support services to ensure the academic success of our talented students in achieving their dream," adds Parr. "Students will receive support from weekly faculty mentoring, intrusive advising, personal counseling and academic success workshops." Supplemental Instruction in Trigonometry, Calculus I, Physics and Chemistry will be available to all scholarship students.

The Achieving the Dream Scholarships Project has broader impacts, including adequately funding students from the South Texas region; increasing the number of ethnically underrepresented students, women and students with disabilities in the required majors; and increasing the successful completion of technical and/or transfer degrees. The program will increase the number of locally educated and technically skilled employees in areas of national need while improving their quality of life and helping to attract industry into the Coastal Bend region.

"Globally, the technological advancements in recent decades require more skilled workers than at any other period of man's evolution according to the National Academy of Engineering," says Parr. "In order for the United States to maintain leadership in STEM fields, we must assure that we maintain an educated workforce."