To our Community College Partners:

I want to bring to your attention a new scholarship opportunity for students transferring from a Community College in Oregon to the University Honors College at Oregon State University. This opportunity is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant supports students in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines who have unmet financial need. Up to 20 one-year scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded for each of the next five years. Scholarship awardees will participate in a program designed to enhance their transition to the University.

We are now recruiting the first group of transfer students. Time is short this year because applications to the University Honors College are due on Feb. 1st. So we are asking your help in getting the word out. If you know of specific students who might be interested and eligible, please forward the attached poster or have them contact me directly. We would be most grateful if you would print and post the attached poster, announce the program in class, forward the poster to appropriate list serves, or otherwise help us to get the word out. And, if there would be a convenient time for one of us to come to your campus and discuss the program, please let us know.

In addition to the attached poster advertising the program, we have also attached a brief fact sheet with additional information about the program. You can visit the scholarship web page at oregonstate.edu/dept/honors/future/scholarships/S-STEM to learn more about the program and to find the on-line application. And, of course, you can contact me directly.

I look forward to working with you to identify deserving and qualified students to take advantage of this opportunity.

Dan

Details are below as well as contact information. Please take a look at this lucrative scholarship opportunity!

-bv

Transition to University and Careers Program
Oregon State University
NSF Grant: Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (SSTEM)
Duration: April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2015
Objective: The Transition to University and Careers Program aims to enhance
successful transition for qualified science, technology, engineering and mathematics
students from any of the seventeen partner Community Colleges in Oregon to the
University Honors College at Oregon State University. Scholars will participate in a
program to ease the transition to University life.

Scholarship: One year, $5,000. Up to 20 scholarships awarded annually.
Applicants must:
•Currently be enrolled at one of the 17 community colleges in Oregon. (Degree
Partnership students are welcome.)
•Have a cumulative college GPA of at least 3.25.
•Have unmet financial need as documented by FAFSA.
•Transfer to OSU with a declared major in one of the STEM disciplines.
•Apply to the University Honors College by February 1st.
•Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.

Application:For more information:
University Honors College, visit oregonstate.edu/dept/honors/ or contact Gildha
Cumming at 541-737-6400, gildha.cumming AT oregonstate.edu

Transition to University Careers Program, contact Dan Arp, 541-737-6400
dan.j.arp AT oregonstate.edu

Some active SMILE students from Madras and Ontario who I had lunch with posed for photos while on campus. (See if you can spot OSU Admissions Bloggers James Miller and Stanley Yu!)

SMILE is one of several K-12 outreach initiatives based at OSU, all working on the premise that an interest in science or engineering starts at a young age and should be carefully nurtured. Other programs tap into parents or community members who are working scientists, or get OSU undergraduate and graduate students involved directly in K-12 outreach activities.

I had the privilege of speaking for a few moments to the students during the opening session as well as during lunch. Students came from everywhere in the state including Madras, Nyssa, Ontario, Chiloquin, Woodburn and Forest Grove just to name a few cities. Hats off to the SMILE staff for putting on another excellent program for students.

–mko