The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has donated a $100,000 grant to the Society for Science & the Public, finding teachers and professional mentors for low-income students interested in scientific research.
Read More: How Do We Get More Kids Into STEM?
The grant is designed to close the Excellence Gap, the difference between the amount of low-income students and high-income students who reach high levels of academic achievement. The mentors, which include teachers, counselors, and scientists, will help low-income students submit successful entries to scientific research competitions. These competitions are a critical milestone for students looking to pursue careers and higher education in science.
Thirty to 50 students and nine mentor-advocates will be able to become involved in the program during its first year. Selected mentors will work with three to five students each, in grades 6 – 11, and will receive a $3,000 stipend.
In order to qualify to participate in the program, eligible students must be engaged in an active research project or have conducted a research project in the last six months, with the intent of applying for a scientific competition during the upcoming school year.
The mentors will help the students identify upcoming opportunities to enter competitions, and advise them and offer support during the application process.
“We know students from low-income backgrounds can and do succeed in STEM fields when given right support and opportunities, and we are committed to help pave the way for more career scientists from under-resourced populations,” said Harold Levy, executive director of the Cooke Foundation. “The SSP Advocate Grant Program presents an extraordinary opportunity to create an ecosystem of support that will allow these students to thrive.”
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is an organization dedicated to providing scholarships, counseling, and other support services for academically promising students in 7th grade through graduate school who are in need of financial aid. It awarded $130 million in scholarships to 1,900 students and over $80 million in grants since its founding in 2000.
The Society for Science & the Public runs education competitions such as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and encourages public engagement in science and science education.