Funded by the National Science Foundation, the NexSTEM program will provide four-year scholarships to approximately 70 academically successful, low income students from McLean county and the surrounding areas who are committed to pursuing STEM degrees at Heartland Community College (HCC), Illinois State University (ISU), or Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU).
Successful applicants will be awarded scholarships of up to $10,000 a year for four years, with the exact amount determined by the student's financial need and the college's cost of attendance. Scholarship recipients who begin their college educations at HCC and then transfer to ISU or IWU will have their scholarship transfer with them. In addition to receiving financial support, scholarship recipients will be part of a mentoring network and gain real world experience by participating with faculty and peers in STEM research projects that serve the McLean county community.
Up to 12 scholarships at each institution are expected to be given to students entering college in Fall of the 2020-2021 school year. Minimum eligibility requirements include Pell-eligible, central Illinois resident, demonstrated academic achievement, and full-time college student pursuing an eligible STEM major. To learn more about the NexSTEM program, eligibility criteria, and the application process, see
NexSTEM.org
or contact Dr. Sheri Glowinski, Director of NexSTEM,
sglowins@iwu.edu
.