928-317-7080
francisco.villa@nau.eduSEEDS scholarship for NAU–Yuma science students
The Seeking Educational Endeavors for Degrees in Science scholarship program (SEEDS), which ran from 2015 to 2020, had a significant and beneficial impact on the regional community, agency and industry partners, and NAU-Yuma. The project was a response to an urgent community and national need for a scientifically literate, technically competent workforce.
Seeking Educational Endeavors for Degrees in Science scholarship
Scholarship goals
The program was designed to reduce barriers and increase support to improve student retention and enhance students’ general self-efficacy, strengthen partnerships within the STEM industry (including government agencies, education, and the commercial sector); and enhance the diversity of the scientific community.
Hands-on learning environments
The implementation of field-based learning environments, internships, a learning community, and undergraduate research experiences helped to motivate SEEDS scholars to actively participate in the science community, leading to mentored research, publication, and admittance into graduate programs in the sciences.
What did SEEDS do?
SEEDS (2015-2020) was a competitive scholarship program, funded by the National Science Foundation S-STEM program, that provided academically promising students seeking to study Biological & Natural Resource Sciences at NAU–Yuma. While in the program SEEDS scholars completed upper division coursework, obtained a bachelor of science degree, and were competitively groomed for employment or graduate school. Project SEEDS provided students with scholarships, academic, research, and internship support, and offered graduate school and career preparation.
About SEEDS
While in the program SEEDS Scholars received the following:
Up to $10,000 per year for academic expenses
Attend a natural history field trip
Tutoring for organic chemistry and biochemistry
Attend a week long academic strategies workshop
Participate in a weekly science seminar
Support for GRE preparations
Encouraged to participate in undergraduate research
Receive mentoring from their peers and faculty
SEEDS scholars were able to:
Attend and/or present at a scientific conferences
Visit graduate programs in the sciences to learn about post-graduate opportunities
Develop competitive applications for internships, jobs, and professional schools
Develop their resume and writing skills
Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a S-STEM scholarship:
Intend to major in Biological & Natural Resource Sciences at NAU-Yuma
Complete basic coursework at their community college
Be eligible for federal financial aid
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0
Be a full time student
Be US citizens, nationals of the United States, aliens admitted as refugees under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence
Scholarships of up to $10,000 per year were based on financial need and academic potential. Scholarships were renewable for a second year when retention criteria awas met. More than thirty scholarships were awarded over four years, beginning in Fall 2015 and ending Fall 2020. These S-STEM scholarships allowed students to focus on academics and reduced the burden of seeking other forms of financial support, such as loans, work study positions, or outside employment. Academic support helped to ease the transition from a two-year college to NAU-Yuma and provided students with the skills and knowledge necessary to complete their degree at NAU-Yuma, while also providing skills for searching and applying for jobs, balancing professional and family life, and/or applying for and succeeding in graduate school. Professional development activities will exposed students to career options in the life sciences and encouraged students to develop a network of colleagues in the scientific community.
This material was funded by the NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program grant #1458321. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).