PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Franklin Institute announced today that it will be selecting a full class of 15 students for STEM Scholars, a new science enrichment program. The program will provide selected high school students from under-resourced backgrounds with intensive structure and opportunities to pursue a variety of careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These students, nominated for their high capacity and high interest, will enroll in the four-year program, which aims to give participants the capability of taking full advantage of the rich educational and career opportunities in the city and the surrounding region.
For almost 200 years, The Franklin Institute has been a leader in innovative approaches to promoting STEM learning, invention and economic development. Today, the Institute’s exhibits and education programs reach people of all ages in Philadelphia and far beyond. This new intensive enrichment program for select, highly motivated, underserved high school students will provide each participant with four years of in-depth learning and mentored research experiences in STEM.
The program was piloted with an introductory cohort of 15 students last year, which provided a valuable testing ground that has laid extensive groundwork for its full implementation. STEM Scholars will announce its full 2012 cohort at a March 10 luncheon at The Franklin Institute. The select students will be welcomed by Ed Satell, the lead funder of STEM Scholars and founder and CEO of Progressive Business Publications and The Satell Center for Executive Education, and The Franklin Institute’s President Dennis Wint. The Franklin Institute STEM Scholars Program aims to serve 60 active and engaged students within four years, with the goal of increasing college matriculation and graduation – preferably in a STEM discipline.
“Despite the importance of science and innovation to the city, on the most recent state tests less than 15% of Philadelphia’s 11th grade students were identified as proficient or above,” said Dennis Wint. “In other words, fewer than one in six students have the science skills needed to compete in a world increasingly driven by innovation. We are thrilled to partner with both Ed Satell and the UJALA Foundation in fulfilling the vision for this program. These funders have provided initial leadership support for the STEM Scholars Program, and have been advocates for encouraging more of the region’s youth to become engaged scientists and engineers.”
“This program is an incredible opportunity to support science-focused education to enormously benefit our community. We will demonstrate the incredible opportunities available in a variety of careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and support these students on their road to success,” said Ed Satell.
Elements of the program will include a series of mini-courses facilitated by regional scientists and faculty, scientific research, professional development, and a series of summer internships that allows them to further explore and connect with their area of interest in a professional setting.
The STEM Scholars Program will ultimately be housed in the Institute’s Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion, a building expansion that breaks ground this spring and is slated to open in the summer of 2014. The Karabots Pavilion, a 53,000 square-foot addition, is expected to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Pavilion will house a STEM education center on its first floor, called Your Brain, a new permanent exhibit developed by the Institute on the second floor, and a gallery for traveling exhibitions on the third floor. The overall building expansion will create 150,000 hours of work and 125 jobs in construction, design and consulting, as well as 20 additional full-time or full-time equivalent jobs at The Franklin Institute.
About The Franklin Institute
Founded in honor of America’s first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in the field of science and technology learning, as well as a dynamic center of activity. It is dedicated to creating a passion for science by offering new and exciting access to science and technology in ways that would dazzle and delight its namesake. For more information, please visit www.fi.edu.