Grants of up to $6000/year, to help students be full-time, excel in their studies, graduate from Rio Hondo College, transfer in a calculus-based STEM major and graduate with their Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics
Applications for the 2020-21 academic year are open from March 20, 2020 – May 10, 2020.
Optional Zoom information meetings: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/170790455
March 30, 3pm; March 31: 6pm; and April 2: 1pm (MESA Hour). Call in information can be found in Zoom meeting invite info meeting.
Recipient Benefits:
- $6000/year for 3 years (incl. transfer)
- Faculty Mentor (who will meet with you regularly)
- A community of like-minded students
- MESA privileges and participation
Who is eligible:
- Filed a FAFSA for 2020-21
- Have unmet financial need
- Enrolled at Rio Hondo College in at least 12 units/semester in fall 2020 and spring 2021
- Calculus Based STEM major for transfer
- At the Calculus 1 or Chemistry 130 level or higher in spring 2020
- GPA is 2.8 or higher
- Citizen or Permanent Resident
Questions? Contact us
The Scholarships to Aid Rio Hondo STEM Students (STARSS 2.0) program provides grants to academically talented, financially needy students working to transfer to a four-year university to complete an undergraduate degree in an science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) major. Scholarships will be offered for up to three years of full-time academic study and in the first semester that the student transfers to the university.
The college’s objective is to both expand and retain the STEM talent pool and therefore increase the number of STEM majors. The college anticipates that the retention and success rates in STEM major preparation courses will rise, the time required for transfer will decrease, and the number of Associate degrees and transfers for underrepresented minorities in STEM will increase.
With this financial support, STARSS 2.0 recipients will be able to work less hours at jobs, thereby freeing up valuable time. In order to further help these students meet their academic goals, they will utilize the services of Rio Hondo College’s MESA and TRIO SSS STEM programs: Academic Excellence Workshops, tutoring, mentoring, seminars, counseling, field trips, leadership and enhancement activities.
STARSS 2.0 is funded by the National Science Foundation Grant #1930037 (Nov 2019 – Nov 2024).
PI: Gisela Spieler-Persad, Phd, Rio Hondo College
Co-PI: Lucy Arellano, PhD, Oregon State University
Co-PI: Lydia Gonzalez, Rio Hondo College
