Community College STEM Scholarship Program

The Community College STEM Scholarship provides a one-year, non-renewable award of $1,500 for students enrolled full time (minimum of 12 credit hours) 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.

The goal of this scholarship opportunity is to encourage talented individuals to pursue studies in technical fields, math, engineering and the sciences.  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 contributions, with the following objectives:

• 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
• Recognizing high academic achievement and promise
• 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

Students that continue their education at a VSGC member university are encouraged to apply to the Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship program in their junior or senior year. The Undergraduate Research Scholarships are one-year, non-renewable support up to $8,500 for undergraduate students enrolled in a Virginia Space Grant university and pursuing any field of study with aerospace relevance and actively engaged in a research project.

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)
• 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

Application Timeline

Applications are due by March 22, 2010. Awards will be announced in April 2010 with funding provided to students through their community college for the 2010–2011 academic year beginning with the Fall 2010 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 22, 2010
(Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the reference by March 29, 2010)

• 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 2009 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. 

Reporting and Administrative Requirements
At the completion of the award period, but no later than June 30, 2011, the scholarship recipient must submit a brief, written report on their experience as a Virginia Space Grant Community College 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.

A letter regarding the recipient’s academic progress during the award period must also be submitted by the faculty advisor no later than June 30, 2011.
The scholarship recipient will be required to:

• provide a photo electronically (size and format)  
• biographical information upon selection
• inform the Consortium of changes of contact information
• respond to academic and employment follow-up surveys
• may be asked to discuss their studies in public forums.

Disposition of Unused Funds
If an awardee terminates his/her academic program during the 2010–2011 academic year, the Community College is required to return a prorated share of the scholarship award to the VSGC.

For questions, please contact:

Virginia Space Grant Consortium
600 Butler Farm Road Suite 2253
Hampton, Virginia 23666
vsgc@odu.edu
Phone: 757/766-5210
Fax: 757/766-5205