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DECATUR, Ill. –  has been awarded a six-year, $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish the  project through the NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM).

The Big Blue STEM Scholars project will begin in the fall of 2025 and provide, over its six-year duration, scholarships to at least 15 unique full-time first-year or transfer students who are pursuing bachelor's degrees in , , , , , or .

The grant was prepared by Dr. Jenna Smith and Dr. Jennifer Schroeder from the , Dr. Emily Olson from the , and is led by the grant's Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Kyle Knust, Director of the .

The Big Blue STEM Scholars project will contribute to the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need at Millikin.

“We hope to use this project to create a surge in STEM applicants, including students from groups underrepresented in STEM, to further strengthen STEM programs here at Millikin,” Knust said. “The overall goal of this project is to increase STEM degree completion of high-achieving undergraduates with a financial need so these graduates may pursue STEM careers.”

Students must meet ���������� admissions requirements, be eligible for a Pell Grant, and remain in good academic standing to receive the scholarship over four years. When combined with a typical financial aid package for Pell-eligible students, the Big Blue Scholars project will significantly reduce the cost of attendance for qualifying students. Many students attending from Illinois will have the opportunity to receive full tuition, as well as housing, food and more as part of the scholarship.

First-year students will receive four-year scholarships. Transfer students will receive two- or three-year scholarships depending on the time necessary for degree completion.

Big Blue STEM Scholars will have the opportunity to receive a stipend for undergraduate research the summer following their first year and can continue that research in their second year. Scholars will also engage with the broader Millikin STEM community through cohort-based coursework and participation in professional development events.

“Here in Decatur, we are surrounded by a wealth of STEM industries and have letters of collaboration with local and regional industry and government partners pledging to support the professional development aspects of Big Blue STEM Scholars, which includes laboratory site visits, guest speakers, and networking opportunities,” Knust said. “Importantly, these supportive opportunities will be available to Big Blue STEM Scholars and ���������� larger STEM student population.”

Additional information regarding the Big Blue STEM Scholars project can be found at .

To arrange media coverage, contact Millikin University Public Relations Coordinator Matthew Flaten at 217.420.6636 or mflaten@millikin.edu.

Acknowledgment: The Big Blue STEM Scholars project (ESS) is supported by the National Science Foundation under a Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM) Grant DUE-#2325989.

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.