FOSSI Class of 2023
Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) Welcomes 2023 Class
Today, one of America鈥檚 most prestigious industries has declared the value they place on HBCUs by the investment and commitment they have made in you. I need you to know that you matter. I need you to know that the decision you made to pursue STEM matters, and we all are standing behind you to ensure you succeed. 鈥� Dr. Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs
Welcoming a New Class
On Monday, July 31st, the welcomed the FOSSI Class of 2023 at a virtual celebration attended by over 300 students and guests.
With the addition of the new class, FOSSI boasts 430 scholars from 32 states who are enrolled at 42 HBCUs across the country.
Adrienne Blanks, AIChE鈥檚 new program lead for the FOSSI Fundamentals of Success, was introduced to scholars as their 鈥済o to鈥� for all things FOSSI, and she shared an essential piece of advice: 鈥淐heck Your Email!鈥�
A Distinguished Line-up of Speakers
Ashley Christopher, Founder and CEO of HBCU Week Foundation and double HBCU alum, told students that she founded HBCU Week Foundation because 鈥淚 wanted to reach back to students who looked like me and to expose them to all of the benefits that come with going to an HBCU鈥� and added that 鈥渁ttending an HBCU was one of the best decisions I鈥檝e made in my life.鈥�
FOSSI Chair and Dow Chairman & CEO Jim Fitterling spoke of the transformative power of a career in the chemical industry. 鈥淒e-carbonization doesn鈥檛 happen without our products and technologies. A circular economy doesn鈥檛 occur without us leading the way. Greater recycling, new electric battery technology, stronger and more resilient food crops, and better food protection. None of that gets done without us. If you want to change the world and make a difference, welcome 鈥� because the future starts right here.鈥�
Chemours SVP & Chief Brand Officer Alvenia Scarborough led students through a brief orientation of FOSSI and encouraged them to fully embrace the experience, noting, 鈥淥ur goal is to help you finish college well-positioned for a great career with one of 70+ FOSSI sponsor companies.鈥�
Congresswoman Alma Adams, Chair and Founder of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus and known as the 鈥淕odmother of HBCUs,鈥� cited the critical importance of scholarships to empower HBCU students. She shared some impressive statistics reflecting how HBCUs provide:
- 27% of the African American STEM workforce
- 40% of African American engineers
- 50% of African American lawyers
- 50% of African American public school teachers
- 80% of African American judges
In closing, Dr. Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs, praised scholars for their incredible achievement. 鈥淭oday, one of America鈥檚 most prestigious industries has declared the value they place on HBCUs by the investment and commitment they have made in you. I need you to know that you matter. I need you to know that the decision you made to pursue STEM matters, and we all are standing behind you to ensure you succeed.鈥�
Join us in ensuring the success of our FOSSI scholars today.
New FOSSI Donors Help Fuel a Diverse Talent Pipeline for the Future
Now in its third year, the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative continues to thrive and grow.
This spring, AbbVie, Air Liquide, Air Products, Arsenal Capital, Fluor, the National Association of 91成人短视频 Distributors, Nouryon, Rockwell Automation, Day & Zimmermann, Johnson Controls, and ICL Group joined FOSSI's 60+ partners and numerous individual supporters to give underrepresented students the gifts of an education at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and access to mentoring, leadership development, and internship opportunities at sponsor companies.
FOSSI Hits HBCU Campus
On January 18th, the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) hosted its first on-campus visit with 42 FOSSI scholars and 15 corporate sponsors at Howard University campus for lunch and a networking session. This was the first opportunity for in-person interaction between scholars and sponsors, who are eager to attend more of these gatherings in the future.