INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE NEWS
FPL AWARDS IRSC $800,000 FOR PROGRAM TO SUPPORT DIVERSITY IN STEM CAREERS
BY SUZANNE SELDES
Indian River State College has received an
$800,000 award from Florida Power & Light Co.
to support diversity in STEM science, technology,
engineering and mathematics careers.
The funds will establish the FPL endow-ed
scholarship program for Black students seeking
Associate in Science degrees in electrical power
technology, with instrumentation and control
and electrical and mechanical and radiation
protection specializations; computer information
technology; and electronics engineering
technology, such as robotics-manufacturing
and laser-photonics specializations.
FPL will fund the endowed scholarship
for four years; $200,000 is available for the
2022–2023 academic year. Scholarship funds
could cover tuition, books and supplies or be
used to enroll in courses that provide additional
certifications such as OSHA or CPR while attending
IRSC. New and returning IRSC students
can apply for the awards by logging into their
MyPioneerPortal account.
“IRSC’s longstanding
partnership with
Florida Power &
Light centers around
making a positive
impact on people’s
lives,” says Michael
Hageloh, IRSC interim
vice president
for institutional
advancement.
“Over the years,
COLLEGE’S LARGEST FEDERAL GRANT TO ASSIST MINORITY STUDENTS EARN STEM DEGREES
Heather J. Belmont
provost/vice president
of academic
affairs and chief
academic officer.
TCBusiness.com 25
BY SUZANNE SELDES
Indian River State College, a Hispanic-serving
Institution, seeks to increase the number of
Hispanic and low-income students who attain
degrees in science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics fields with the help of a
$4,961,238 Hispanic-Serving Institutions STEM
and Articulation Program grant from the U.S.
Department of Education.
IRSC’s STEM Pioneers project will assist
students from the college’s service district of
St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee
counties by focusing on student success in undergraduate
STEM coursework and developing
a model articulation and transfer agreement
between IRSC and the University of Florida. The
grant is the largest federally funded competitive
grant in the school’s history.
“This HSI STEM grant greatly expands IRSC’s
capacity to help underrepresented students
excel in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics education,” says Heather Belmont,
provost/vice president of academic affairs and
chief academic officer.
“The STEM Pioneers project takes a holistic
approach to supporting Hispanic and lowincome
students throughout their educational
journey, so they may be successful in attaining
good-paying careers in in-demand STEM occupations.”
The project addresses student challenges
through integrated academic and student
support strategies and activities to promote
retention and graduation in a STEM field. These
include:
• Development of the STEM Learning Commons
and extension of the STEM peer tutoring
program;
• Student summer research opportunities
with IRSC, University of
Florida, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Cleveland
Clinic and others;
• Faculty Professional
Development
and Learning Communities
in collaboration with
University
of Florida;
• STEM career course
development and deployment
with University of
Florida;
• Mental health counseling; and
• Development and deployment of
concierge STEM student services via
STEM success coaches.
By the end of five years, Indian River State
College aims to increase the number of fulltime
degree-seeking Hispanic and low-income
undergraduates who successfully complete
their IRSC studies and transfer to a four-year
institution to continue their STEM education.
Visit www.irsc.edu for more information
about its programs that lead to STEM careers. v
INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE
IRSC has received its largest federally funded competitive
grant to assist minority students in STEM
classes, which includes its robotics program.
we have collaborated on programs that build
essential workforce skills and put students into
great paying jobs,” he continues. “FPL’s most
recent commitment moves us closer to achieving
another mutual goal — addressing racial
opportunity gaps in STEM fields — and for that,
we are immensely grateful.”
According to an April 2021 report from the
Pew Research Center, Black workers comprise
11% of all employed adults but account for
only 9% of adults employed in STEM occupations.
Their share is lower in some STEM job
clusters, including just 5% in engineering jobs.
Further, Pew states that there has been no
change in the share of Black workers in STEM
jobs since 2016.
FPL’s commitment to IRSC will help remove
financial barriers that may prevent Black students
from entering these fields.
“We are focused on breaking down barriers
to opportunity by investing in STEM programs
that empower our next generation of leaders,”
says Pamela Rauch, vice president of external
affairs and economic development for FPL.
“We are proud to energize IRSC’s dynamic
STEM initiatives and provide support for students
with this grant,” Rauch continues. “The Florida
Power & Light Company Endowed Scholarship for
Black students will help inspire these innovators
to obtain an Associate of Science degree — a
strong foundation for landing a high-paying job
in the technology field.”
The FPL program is the most recent
example of IRSC’s steadfastness to finding
ways to remove barriers and support student
diversity in STEM subjects. These opportunities,
combined with integrated academic and
student support strategies and activities that
promote retention and graduation, will help
IRSC increase the number of undergraduates
from underrepresented groups who successfully
complete STEM studies.
Visit www.irscfoundation.org to learn more
about the FPL endowed scholarship program
and other student funding opportunities available
through the IRSC Foundation. v
Michael Hageloh, IRSC
interim vice president for
institutional advancement
INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE
The new Florida Power & Light scholarship program
will help Black students as they work toward degrees
in various STEM fields.
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/www.irsc.edu
/www.irscfoundation.org