2013-14 Community College STEM Scholarship Program

The Community College STEM Scholarship provides a one-year, non-renewable award of $2,000 for students enrolled full time (12 credit hours or more) at one of Virginia’s Community Colleges.  Students must be majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field and be interested in pursuing a career that supports NASA's mission including careers in the aerospace sector.

Students must apply during their freshman year of community college enrollment for an award that will begin in the sophomore year. The number of awards is contingent on available funding. This is a competitive scholarship program based on academic merit funded by NASA and the Commonwealth of Virginia recognizing high academic achievement and promise.

Goals:

• Encouraging students engaged in associate degree programs who are preparing for careers in technology fields essential to America’s industrial and technological competitiveness, particularly those with aerospace relevance.
• Increasing participation of underrepresented minorities, females and students with disabilities in aeronautics, space and high-technology fields.
• Implementing the goals of the Virginia Space Grant Consortium and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Eligibility:

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be currently enrolled full-time in a Virginia Community College and have completed at least one semester of coursework (minimum of 12 credit hours) at time of application
• Must be majoring in a STEM program of study
• Must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Must expect to graduate by May, 2014 or later

Required Application Components:

• Statement of your academic and career goals – a brief written statement by the applicant relating to how his/her degree will help them prepare for a technical career in aerospace or a STEM field that will support NASA's mission. Indicate your plans for future academic preparation including pursuing an undergraduate four-year degree or beyond.
• Plan of Study – submit an outline of your intended coursework for the sophomore year of your STEM associate degree program.
• Resume – submit a short summary of your education, work or military experience and any significant accomplishments (e.g. honors or awards) or any other relevant information
• Letters of Recommendation - provide the names and contact information for two references of which one must be the applicant’s current faculty advisor.  Letters of recommendation should assess the applicant’s technical and /or academic potential as well as his/her progress and academic achievements. The on-line application system will contact both references via email to request a letter of recommendation on behalf of the applicant.  We suggest that you inform both of your references that they will receive an email from the VSGC in reference to your application.  Your references will be provided with a link to submit their recommendations.  VSGC must receive both recommendations for your application to be complete.
• Transcript- An unofficial transcript with all grades through Fall semester 2012 is required and can be submitted as a PDF in the online application.  If the applicant is selected to receive an award then an official transcript will be required at acceptance.  If the applicant does not have a PDF conversion tool, links to free on-line PDF converters are provided in the application.

Administrative and Reporting Requirements for Award Recipients:

• Awardees must provide a head-shot photo electronically.
• Awardees must provide biographical information upon selection.
• Awardees must inform the VSGC of changes of contact information.
• Awardees must respond to academic and employment follow-up surveys.
• Awardees must may be asked to discuss their studies in public forums.

At the completion of the award period, but no later than May 9, 2014, the scholarship recipient must submit a brief, written report on their experience as a Virginia Space Grant Community College STEM Scholar. The report should address:

• Academic progress, including degree granted (if applicable)
• The impact the award has made on plans to pursue future technical training or a baccalaureate or higher degree
• Significant results of the recipient’s experience (e.g. a list of presentations made, awards or honors)
• Employment or future educational plans.

Disposition of Unused Funds:
If an the scholarship recipient terminates his/her academic program during the 2013–2014 academic year, the Community College is required to return a prorated share of the scholarship award to the VSGC.

Application Timeline

Applications are due by March 15, 2013. Awards will be announced in April 2013 with funding provided to students through their community college for the 2013–2014 academic year beginning with the Fall 2013 semester.

Community College STEM Scholarship Application

Applicants must click new user registration button to begin application
APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 P.M. EST March 15, 2013
(Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the reference by March 22, 2013)