FSC Lands $1 Million Grant for Low-income STEM Students

August 6, 2019

Thirty-two students from six LI high schools will be enrolling at FSC in 2020 and 2021 with $20,000 scholarships, thanks to a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

The S-STEM grant, written by Dr. Beverly Kahn, director of FSC’s RAM program, will provide scholarships for academically talented, low-income students in STEM fields. The students must major in either Applied Mathematics or Biology.

According to Dr. Kahn, scholarship money will be awarded to students regardless of whatever financial aid they receive from other sources. If a student’s tuition is covered by other aid, then the $5,000 per-year NSF scholarship money may be used for transportation, meal plans, books, or other expenses.

Says Dr. Kahn: “This project will contribute to 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.”

The high schools participating in the project include Uniondale, Central Islip, J.F. Kennedy, Brentwood, Connetquot, and Walt Whitman. Three partner institutions, which will invite STEM students to conduct research at their facilities during the summer, include Rutgers University; Waksman Institute of Microbiology; Feinstein Institute for Medical Research; and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

The $1 million S-STEM grant is the largest NSF grant ever awarded to the College.