WELLESLEY HILLS, MA (June 1, 2012) – Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) was notified by the National Science Foundation that it earned a $347,050 grant for student scholarships yesterday. Scholarships will be awarded by MassBay to students pursuing their associate degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), who are legal US citizens or residents, and who demonstrate academic potential and financial need.
“We are proud to receive these needed funds on behalf of our students,” said MassBay President John O’Donnell. “These scholarships will fund students training in bioinformatics, biotechnology, computer information systems, computer science, electrical and computing engineering, electronics technology, environmental science, forensic DNA science, information systems technology, life sciences, mechanical engineering, and other fields that are key to the economic growth of the metro west region. Thanks in part to this grant, our scholars will have the option to join these high-growth STEM-based industries or to continue their studies, often at four-year institutions in the region.”
MassBay offers 17 different STEM associate degrees. Last month MassBay was informed that biotechnology student Marine Corporal Kenny A. Moreno had earned a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious undergraduate science, engineering and mathematics award in the nation, for his cancer research. Corporal Moreno became the 18th Goldwater Scholar produced by MassBay’s Biotechnology Program, by far the most of any community college in America.
Bruce A. Jackson, Professor of Biotechnology and Forensic DNA Science and Chair of the Biotechnology Department, led the grant application. “This Award will provide extensive research experiences for outstanding STEM Scholars more and more of whom are being produced by this nation’s community colleges,” said Dr. Jackson. ”It will also provide another scholastic platform from which MassBay STEM scholars can pursue advanced degree in STEM disciplines.”
Dr. Jackson is the grant’s Principal Investigator. Dr. Chitra N. Javdekar, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Elizabeth Enos, Director of Financial Aid are Co-Principal Investigators
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) is an open-access, accredited two-year public educational institution. The College grants associate degrees and certificates in a range of disciplines through its five divisions of academics: the Division of Health Sciences; the Division of Humanites; the Division of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (S.T.E.M.); the Division of Social Sciences & Professional Studies; and the Division of Transportation & Energy. Offering over 60 academic programs, MassBay serves Boston and the MetroWest communities with locations in Wellesley Hills, Framingham and Ashland (Automotive Technology Center).