Ensuring Equity and Excellence in the Sciences
THE MISSION 鈥� The STEM Scholars program is a four-year, cohort-based mentoring initiative designed to ensure that every student interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math has the support to succeed and graduate. By focusing on students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences 鈥� including first-generation students and those from rural Maine 鈥� 乐播传媒 is redefining who can excel in STEM.
“The STEM Scholars program has fundamentally transformed the landscape of science at 乐播传媒. We have moved from a model where identity predicted outcome to one where every talented student, regardless of background, has a clear pathway to success. Endowing this program ensures that this culture of inclusion and excellence is not just a moment in our history, but a permanent pillar of the 乐播传媒 experience.鈥�
– April Horton
Wagener Family Professor of Equity and Inclusion in STEM
A PROVEN
SUCCESS STORY
Launched in 2019 to address national and institutional trends in STEM retention, the program has achieved historic results. As of 2026:
Closing the Gap: Race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status are no longer predictors of graduation in STEM disciplines at 乐播传媒.
High Retention: Over 85% of STEM Scholars graduate with a STEM degree, far exceeding national averages.
Elite Outcomes: Scholars have secured prestigious research fellowships at institutions such as Harvard Medical School, the MIT Broad Institute, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins.
Cultural Shift: The program has successfully transformed the 乐播传媒 STEM landscape from one viewed as competitive and uninviting to a culture of inclusive excellence.
THE CASE FOR ENDOWMENT:
SUSTAINING THE FUTURE
To ensure these gains are permanent, 乐播传媒 seeks to build a $1 million endowment. This will sustain the program in perpetuity, providing a reliable $50,000 annual operating budget to cover:
The Goal: $1M Endowment = $50K in program support per year
| Faculty Mentorship and Program Direction | $25K |
| Student Mentors and Purposeful Work Fellows | $10K |
| Student Travel and Scientific Conferences | $5K |
| Expert Speakers and Alumni Visitors | $5K |
| Social Programming and Cohort Building | $5K |
Why Endow?
An endowment provides a permanent, sustainable revenue stream that enables 乐播传媒 to plan for the program鈥檚 long-term growth. It ensures that the close-knit mentoring and research opportunities that define the STEM Scholars experience remain available to every future Bobcat, regardless of shifting annual budgets. To create this kind of lasting impact for our students, establishing a named endowment starts with a minimum commitment of $100,000.
Get in Touch
If you’re interested in learning more or making a gift, please contact:
Seth Williams
Director of Leadership Giving
swilliams2@bates.edu
207-755-5988