National Science Foundation Awards $600,000 Grant to Furman University
April 4, 2012
GREENVILLE, SC – April 4, 2012 – The National Science Foundation has awarded FurmanUniversity a five-year, $600,000 grant to provide merit-basedscholarships to students who demonstrate financial need and who arepursuing degrees in science-based fields.
Beginning this fall, biology and chemistry majors entering Furmanwill be eligible to receive financial aid awards of up to $40,000 aspart of the new scholarship program funded by the Foundation’s Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program.
The Science Opportunities, Activities and Resources (SOAR) Scholarsinitiative will provide critical support for students for whom the costof attendance would be a hardship.
Furman’s program aims to enhance science opportunities for studentsfrom South Carolina racial and ethnic groups traditionallyunderrepresented in science fields (i.e., African American,Hispanic/Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander). Between 15 and21 students are expected to benefit from the program over the next fiveyears, with Furman contributing funding for the program in the sixthyear.
“The university has historically proved itself to be an exceptionalleader among liberal arts colleges in preparing students fromunderrepresented backgrounds for highly successful professionalcareers,” said Dr. John Wheeler, director of Furman’s Office ofIntegrative Research in the Sciences. “We are delighted to have beenselected for this competitive award, Furman’s first under the NationalScience Foundation S-STEM initiative, and we are immediately engaging inthe selection of qualified students for the Class of 2017.”
Dr. John Kaup, Furman’s Coordinator of Science Education, will serveas director of Furman’s SOAR Scholars program, with assistance fromWheeler (principal investigator), Dr. Eli Hestermann, (co-investigator,associate professor of biology), and Dr. Marion Martin,(co-investigator, assistant professor of chemistry).
SOAR Scholars will participate in a host of program activities,including a one-week, pre-college bridge experience offered immediatelyprior to the freshman year, weekly interdisciplinary seminars,opportunities for science-based community outreach through establishedprograms directed at disadvantaged populations, and guaranteed placementinto paid summer research experiences on campus.
Additional supports available to SOAR Scholars include peer mentoringprograms, regular meetings with permanently assigned secondaryadvisors, free on-campus tutoring and the active participation ofFurman’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Interested applicants should contact Dr. John Kaup at [email protected] or (864) 294-3773.
The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency thatsupports fundamental research and education across all fields ofscience and engineering.
