Starting in Fall 2023, 20 UNCG students will receive funding as Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program scholars, thanks to a $3.4 million National Science Foundation grant distributed across five North Carolina public universities. UNCG will use these funds to support students historically underrepresented in STEM programs.
For senior mathematics major Yessica Arzate, it’s about making an impact: “Part of being involved with LSAMP is discovering what you want to contribute to the world.” But first, students like Arzate will strengthen the campus community.
Scholarship recipients also recognize the new skills they gain. “The biggest outcome of this scholarship for me is that I will be better equipped to find ways to gain real world experience before I graduate,” says sophomore computer science major Adam Cichoski.
Each LSAMP scholar will receive a $3,000 scholarship per year and $4,000 to conduct summer research at a faculty-mentored research lab. UNCG LSAMP scholars will become mentors to future participants and other underrepresented students in STEM.
Rachel Thompson, a junior biology major, notes that scholarship recipients can benefit from faculty mentors. “Our mentors present opportunities that I never knew existed. They taught me how to keep an open mind when looking for a longterm career.” She has also had the chance to become a leader, she adds.
Learn more about this National Science Foundation grant.
By Alice Manning Touchette and Mercer Bufter