Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College received a $1,499,850 grant from the National Science Foundation to fund 115 scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics majors.  In addition, the grant will provide the opportunity to increase STEM degree completion through co-curricular strategies such as cohorts and faculty mentoring combined, peer mentoring, summer bridge programs, co-curricular supports, and early-alert systems.

“We are excited about the opportunities this grant will provide for our students in biological and physical science, mathematics, statistics, computer and information science, engineering, and emerging technology fields,” Dr. Mary Graham, MGCCC president. “Our mission is to provide one-of-a-kind opportunities for student success, and this grant offers us even more ways to make that possible.”

The grant is for six years and supports the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income STEM students with demonstrated financial need.

Amanda Sharrow, science instructor at the Harrison County Campus, is principal investigator for “Excelerate: Inspiring Excellence and Accelerating Achievement through a STEM Scholars Program.”  Co-principal investigators are Dr. Kelly Rouse, science instructor and advising coordinator for the School of Science and Kinesiology at the Harrison County Campus; Dr. Jason Ross, mathematics instructor and chair of the School of Engineering, Mathematics, Data Science and IT at the Perkinston Campus; and John Poelma, electronics instructor and chair of the School of Manufacturing, Maritime, and Transportation at the Jackson County Campus.

For more information about the grant, visit NSF.gov.