|
News from |
|
Michael D. Chason Director of Public
Relations ABAC 30, 2802 Moore Hwy |
|
|
|
|
|
For IMMEDIATE
Release July 15, 2010
Dr. Ray Barber (right) and Dr. John Farrar from the
School of Science and Mathematics at ABAC look over the proposal for the
National Science Foundation grant. The proposal was accepted, and the
Foundation will award $600,000 in scholarship funds to ABAC students over the
next five years.
ABAC RECEIVES $600,000 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
GRANT
TIFTON
– High school graduates interested in science and mathematics might begin their
career journey with a scholarship from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College thanks
to a new $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The
NSF has agreed to fund an ABAC proposal to offer Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) scholarships beginning Aug. 1. The STEM
scholarships will be awarded over a five-year period with a total of $600,000
in funds for students interested in pursuing careers in science and
mathematics. The scholarship fund was established by the NSF due to a
shortage of students in this field of study.
“This
is the first NSF grant ABAC has received,” said Dr. Ray Barber, Dean of the
School of Science and Mathematics. “The offering of this grant is going to make
ABAC stronger and give the college and the School of Science and Mathematics an
opportunity to attract more students.”
Under
the proposal, students who receive the scholarships will be a part of the
Achievement through Student Support and Experiential Training in Science
(ASSETS) program. This will fund STEM scholarships and institute new student
support functions such as clubs, field trips, enhanced tutoring and internship
opportunities.
Barber
said that STEM students will also have the opportunity to work with University
of Georgia researchers. The extracurricular activities will add value to the
scholarships and can enrich the lives of the students.
The
award is one of 85 new STEM awards that will be made by the NSF Division of
Undergraduate Education this year. These awards are a result of the
evaluation of 277 proposals.
“That
puts the ABAC ASSETS project in a very select group nationwide,” Barber said.
In
order to qualify for the STEM grant at ABAC, students must be citizens of the
United States, nationals of the United States, or aliens lawfully admitted to
the United States for permanent residence; be enrolled full time in one of the
degree programs (biology, chemistry, physics, engineering or mathematics)
specified at the associate degree level; demonstrate academic potential or
ability; and demonstrate financial need.
Students
interested in the STEM grant scholarships can contact Nicholas Urquhart in the
ABAC Office of Enrollment Services at (229) 391-4917 or go to www.abac.edu/SM/assets.cfm for the STEM
application and evaluation form.
The
deadline for admissions applications for the ABAC fall semester is Aug.
1. The fall term begins on Aug. 16.