The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Lawson State Community College $2 million on January 1, 2027, under the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program to support retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students pursuing STEM degrees.
The project will fund scholarships for up to 75 scholars pursuing associate degrees in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, industrial electronics technology, manufacturing technology, and mathematics for up to five years. Scholars will receive multidimensional mentoring, peer networking opportunities, early undergraduate research experiences, and artificial intelligence micro-credentials. An independent evaluator will assess scholar progress across multiple dimensions to generate evidence on effective support strategies for talented, low-income STEM students.
The award runs through December 31, 2032, with performance based in Birmingham, Alabama. The S-STEM program seeks to increase the number of academically talented, low-income students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in STEM fields and improve the education of future STEM workers.