The S-STEM Scholars programs are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through two $1M grants awarded to Chaminade. These prestigious national STEM Scholarships seek to fund high talent students with financial need to gain science degrees and engage with the pressing societal challenges facing our state, our nation and the Pacific region. Our programs provide opportunities for students who are exceptionally talented but face financial and other obstacles to full participation in STEM degrees. Our current S-STEM Scholars include indigenous Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, veterans, formerly incarcerated and non-traditional students, all unified by a passion to use STEM to promote social justice.
Biology, Environmental Science and Environmental Studies majors are supported by our Inana (Hawaiian: spark) S-STEM program. The goal of this program is to engage students with key challenges to resilience and sustainability, preparing a new generation of graduates equipped with the scientific, advocacy and communication skills to be part of the solution. To date, 16 exceptional students have been supported by this program with four-year scholarships of $40,000 and the program has a ~90% retention rate.
Data Analytics students are supported by our new PEARL (Pacific Excellence in Analytics through Research and Learning) S-STEM program. This program will support 20 exceptional students to launch careers in data analytics with four-year scholarships of $40,000. As one of the hottest career areas, data scientists are in demand across all economic sectors and command high salaries. The PEARL program offers students the opportunity to specialize in areas such as healthcare analytics, business analytics and environmental analytics. Chaminade’s Data Science major curriculum is laser-focused on working real-world problems provided by stakeholders. PEARL Scholars will lead Hawai’i in harnessing the data revolution in support of economic growth and social justice.
Both Inana and PEARL NSF S-STEM Scholars receive four years of financial support and access to the Ho’oulu program suite of student success services (specialized academic and life-coaching, cultural programming, exclusive professional tutoring, and opportunities for subsidized professional certifications).
The scholarship application period for the Fall 2022 term is now closed.
