Bevill State Community College has been awarded a major grant for its Engineering department from the prestigious National Science Foundation.
The grant will fund scholarships for the Math, Chemistry, and Physics Preparation (MCAPP) program, which prepares students for the first two years of their Engineering degree. Bevill State Engineering and Physics faculty member Ken Swinney will provide oversight to the project as principal investigator.
The project will provide funding for 12 scholarships for the 2009-2010 academic year, with an anticipated 18 scholarships per year over the next four years of the grant. The grant's total value for 2009-10 is $109,164, with the college anticipating receiving a total of $572,843 over the five-year funding period.
"We are delighted to receive such a prestigious grant," said Dr. Anne McNutt, Bevill State President. "It will provide a wonderful opportunity for individuals to pursue higher education in math, chemistry, physics, and engineering, without assuming thousands of dollars in debt. With this scholarship opportunity, students have a clear-cut career path to graduate from four-year programs."
"There is a lack of preparedness across the nation in highly-skilled careers such as science and engineering and by receiving this highly competitive grant, the College is addressing this need," she added. "This NSF award positions our college and the students in our service area well."
Students will have the opportunity to apply for one of two types of scholarships from the College's Math, Chemistry, and Physics Preparation Program (MCAPP).
Students may apply for MCAPP Honors Scholarships, which requires being enrolled full-time in Engineering at BSCC, an ACT score of 20, placement into Precalculus Algebra at BSCC based on COMPASS testing scores, a high school grade average of B or higher, a letter of recommendation from a high school science or math teacher, and demonstrate financial need based on a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
For students who have an interest in Engineering but may need some academic assistance, MCAPP Incentive Scholarships are also available. To qualify for an MCAPP Incentive Scholarship, students must be enrolled full-time in Engineering at BSCC, have a high school grade point average of C+ or better, submit an essay demonstrating interest and motivation, a letter of recommendation from a high school science or math teacher, and demonstrate financial need based on the FAFSA.
The scholarships will have a value of $7,460 annually for two years for students who meet all financial need requirements. The deadline for applications is April 1, which are available from the Office of Student Services or www.bscc.edu.
"For a student who qualifies for the full scholarship and a Pell Grant, they will be eligible to receive almost $12,000 a year for their education," Swinney said. "The intent is to allow students to concentrate on their education full-time and prepare for a high-wage, high-skill career."
Students from all Bevill State locations are eligible to apply for a scholarship and participate in the MCAPP program, said Brian Gann, Director of Institutional Advancement.
"This is a great opportunity for students across the Bevill State service area interested in an Engineering career," Gann said. "MCAPP is an outstanding program, and I am especially pleased we were able to write a grant that includes Incentive Scholarships for students who have an interest in the field but do not feel prepared to start immediately into engineering and upper-level math courses."
With the condition of the national and state economy, the scholarships are being offered at an opportune time for students, Fayette Campus Associate Dean Max Weaver said.
"So many families in our area are struggling right now during these difficult economic times," Weaver said. "The College recognizes this fact, and we are always working to pursue opportunities such as these to help our students."
The MCAPP Honors and MCAPP Incentive Scholarships are funded by NSF through the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program DUE # 0849587.
