NSF Chem-STEM Scholarship Program

Chemistry and Biochemistry at Winthrop University

On April 11, 2012, Winthrop's Chemistry and Biochemistry Program was competitively selected for a $598,500 National Science Foundation Grant for the sole purpose of awarding scholarships to chemistry and biochemistry students at Winthrop with academic potential and financial need. This is a five year grant with a start date of July 1, 2012 and an end date of June 30, 2017.

The Chem-STEM Scholars Program recruited 41 academically talented and financially needy students into chemistry and biochemistry over the five years of the project. Selected Chem-STEM Scholars shared a common curriculum involving degree tracks meeting American Chemical Society (ACS) guidelines for a professional undergraduate education. Based on historical matriculation patterns at the university, both freshmen and sophomore entry points were used to recruit students. Entering 2012-2016 freshmen cohorts had $5,000 scholarships available; all scholars remaining in good standing were supported for four years. 2012-2015 sophomore cohorts, comprised primarily of students from other majors or transfers, had $5,000 scholarships available; all sophomore scholars maintaining satisfactory progress were supported for three years. At the end of the project, Winthrop University is sustaining Chem-STEM scholarships for NSF-funded cohorts who have not yet graduated.

The Chem-STEM Scholarship Award is the first NSF S-STEM Scholarship Grant ever won by WInthrop University.