Feds award KCK college $745K+ to boost 30 low-income STEM students working toward biology degrees
December 1, 2022 | Startland News Staff
A National Science Foundation grant is expected to support the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income STEM students, said U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, announcing the award.
Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) is set to receive $745,635 to fund scholarships — over the next five years — for 30 full-time students who are pursuing a degree with a biology emphasis, Davids detailed.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas
“As someone who worked multiple jobs to help pay my way through community college, I understand the huge difference this scholarship will make for these 30 KCKCC students,” she said. “I’m excited for the new support and mentorship opportunities the students will receive and applaud KCKCC’s dedication to diversifying their academic programs.”
The funding announced Thursday benefits KCKCC’s Building Biologists Using Assets for Scholar Success project, which works to increase graduation rates and pathways to the STEM workforce by linking scholarships with effective support services for low-income students.
The program’s services include mentoring, undergraduate research experiences, internship opportunities, and participation in presentations and workshops that showcase the demands and rewards of a career in STEM.
Click here to learn more about KCKCC’s award and the Building Biologists Using Assets for Scholar Success project.
“Kansas City Kansas Community College is excited to boost biology careers through student scholarships provided by the National Science Foundation grant,” said Dr. Greg Mosier, president of KCKCC. “This is an important opportunity to advance STEM careers in the state. We appreciate the opportunity to participate in this initiative.”
Sharice Davids tours KCKCC’s Automation Engineering Technology Program in March; photo courtesy of Sharice Davids’ Office
In August, Davids announced a similar NSF award of $1.4 million for Johnson County Community College’s STEM Scholars Program. The effort shares the mission of KCKCC’s — supporting low-income, high-achieving students in the STEM field, according to Davids’ office.
Other funding support for education and STEM workforce in the Kansas Third District includes previously announced federal funding to improve college readiness through KCKCC’s Upward Bound program and securing $1.9 million for their Automation Engineering Technology Program, allowing students to train on new, real-life automation equipment as they prepare to enter the manufacturing workforce.
Featured Business
2022 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Rx Savings secures $18.4M funding round, nears 2 million members
An $18.4 million funding round is the prescription Rx Savings Solutions needs to expand its fight against a crippling, yet common ailment, said Michael Rea. “Everyone in the nation has the same problem — high drug costs — and most people don’t know there are options to save money,” said Rea, founder and chief executive…
Before prime time: Did Amazon’s 1999 arrival in Kansas deliver on hype?
In 1999, Amazon — still in its infancy — meant only two things to most consumers: low-priced books and CDs. But for one small town in Kansas, residents believed the online retailer had the potential to be a game-changer for their economically depressed, rural community. “People in Coffeyville were practically doing cartwheels in the streets,” said…
FCC head: Repealing net neutrality will boost innovation, investment; startups disagree
The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to eliminate regulatory rules that prohibit internet service providers from interfering with consumers’ access to web content. FCC chairman Ajit Pai announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the regulatory body will vote Dec. 14 to repeal 2015 Obama-era regulations. That regulatory model, referred to as Title II,…
Bitten by Disney sharks, Roy Scott beats the odds with Healthy Hip Hop
When a potentially life-altering business deal suddenly vanished, Roy Scott didn’t get mad — he got funded. “Disney thought they were going to snuff us out, but all they did was put gasoline on this fire,” said Scott, founder of Kansas City-based H3 Enterprises (Healthy Hip Hop). Rewind. Starting his company with a live performance-based…