The United Negro College Fund, Akerman Senterfitt and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute at Lake Nona recently held a kickoff event to launch the STEM Pipeline Program – a collaborative partnership of private business and nonprofit organizations aimed at increasing the interest of African-Americans and other minorities in science-related fields.
While the demand for skilled individuals with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) continues to increase, minorities are still under-represented in these fields due to inadequate foundational skills during middle and high school, lack of financial resources for college, and low awareness of interest in STEM-related careers, according to UNCF.
“We are extremely proud to offer a program to Central Florida students who may otherwise not know their interest in this career path, or feel like they don’t have the funds to pay for college,” said Sherry Paramore, area development director for UNCF. “It is truly a gift to be able to see students all the way through their education to eventual placement in a STEM-related career, by providing awareness, training and mentorship support.”
The program will incorporate in-classroom career information about STEM education at local middle and high schools with diverse populations. The program also fosters further development by offering a four-year scholarship to qualified students toward a STEM major, which includes paid internships for all four summers at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute at Lake Nona.
