NCCU Awarded $1.5 M Grant for STEM Education

By Jeremy Summers, NCBiotech Writer

On Friday, North Carolina Central University announced a grant of $1.5 million from the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation.

The grant will be used for math and science student scholarships and to enhance the university’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs.

Funding from the grant will be used to underwrite four-year scholarships for 40 STEM students, which will allow NCCU to increase the number of women and minority students who graduate with a STEM degree and pursue a career in a STEM field. 

“At the NC GSK Foundation, we have a long history of furthering science education. We are especially proud that this funding will encourage women and minorities to successfully pursue STEM studies and careers,” said Marilyn Foote-Hudson, executive director of the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation.

Students receiving these scholarships will also participate in a learning community, which will allow STEM students to live together in dedicated residential space and have access to student and faculty support services. The grant will help fund a new staff position that will coordinate this program and recruit experienced professionals to serve as mentors and provide internships to NCCU’s STEM students. 

“The intention is to surround these students with faculty and staff who demonstrate a passion and commitment to science education that will help carry them through these challenging programs,” said NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms. “We are so grateful to the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation for enabling us to differentiate and enhance our STEM programming in a way that benefits our students and faculty.”