The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) has announced a new group of students that it’s set to financially support.

According to a press release, the national chemical industry-wide program has welcomed 144 new scholarship recipients for 2022, who will be pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). FOSSI is set to provide $40,000 scholarships.

“From academic performance to community engagement, these 144 FOSSI scholarship recipients have clearly demonstrated their commitment to excellence,” FOSSI Chairman, Mark Vergnano shared in a statement, according to the press release. “We are thrilled to support their HBCU education and future career aspirations, helping to eliminate financial barriers and providing mentoring and career development at our 60 sponsoring organizations.”

The press release notes that within the group, which represents 25 states, are students planning to major in nearly 20 unique STEM majors at 24 HBCUs.

Since its inception, the STEM program has brought in over $17 million for over 350 students, as previously reported by AfroTech. The mission is to support 1,000 scholars until 2025. In addition to the scholarship funding, FOSSI provides further resources for the students including leadership development, corporate matching, and internship opportunities.

“This scholarship has brought so much joy to my family, and I am happy that I can continue my education as a first-generation college student without any financial worries,” N’jya Hopkins, a FOSSI scholarship recipient and future Chemistry major at Virginia State University, said.

Jayden Christmas, a future Mechanical Engineering major at North Carolina A&T State University, added: “The FOSSI Scholarship is so much more than a generous financial gift. Having this organization invest in my future makes me want to work harder to achieve my goals. I look forward to the mentoring and other leadership building opportunities, meeting my peers and expanding my network.”

To learn more about how to apply for the 2022 FOSSI scholarships — opening on Sept. 23, 2022 — click here.

STEM Scholarships

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