I wanted to share with you the following article that was published by the Utica Observer-Dispatch:

Utica Observer-Dispatch: Area science whizzes get state scholarships

S.  Alexander Gerould

Posted Oct. 11, 2014 @ 6:28 pm AT A GLANCE Interested in applying for the New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program? Here are more details: * The initiative provides full-tuition scholarships

UTICA

Know a high school senior trying to figure out what his or her major should be?

New York state might have some incentive for them.

Earlier this year, the state launched its New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program. The initiative provides full-tuition scholarships to students in the top 10 percent of their high school class who choose to pursue a STEM degree in an associate or bachelor’s degree program at one of the state’s public colleges and universities.

To accept the scholarship, however, students also have to agree to work in a STEM-related field in the state for at least five years after graduation, according to a news release from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

On Friday, state officials recognized the first recipients of the scholarships, more than a dozen of whom live in Oneida or Herkimer counties. The names and schools of those students were not released, however.

“Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s innovative vision and leadership, public colleges and universities in every region of the state are poised to educate and train the next generation of STEM experts who will build successful careers in New York,” SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said in the release.

According to figures provided by the governor’s office, several local colleges and universities have students who are participating in the program.

SUNY Poly: 14 students

Mohawk Valley Community College: 1 student

SUNY Oneonta: 9 students

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry: 28 students

Morrisville State College: 1 student

Seyed Akhavi, dean of Mohawk Valley Community College’s STEM center, said the scholarship program could make STEM majors more appealing, especially with the cost of a college education rapidly increasing.

“There is a huge gap between the number of graduates in the STEM-related fields and the jobs that are already here and the jobs that are coming to our region and the state,” Akhavi said. “Unfortunately, not many young people are interested in the STEM education. They stay away from it. Math is a challenge for some of our young people. Science and engineering are not really having the prestige those fields have in other countries.”

Scholarship applications for students entering college in fall 2015 will be available starting Jan. 1.

“By helping our best and brightest students launch their careers in STEM fields here at home, we are making an investment in our state’s future that will help drive the economy and create opportunities for years to come,” Cuomo said in the release.

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