What are STEM Scholars?
STEM Scholars is a program for first-and second-year students at Amarillo College (Washington campus) who are majoring in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, and math) and plan to transfer to receive a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution.
The mission of the STEM Scholars program is to support holistic skill development and elevated academic performance through a supportive cohort and mentorship-based program.
Through this tightly-knit learning community, STEM Scholars will continually inspire one another to grow and succeed.
After a student applies and is accepted, they remain a part of the STEM Scholars program until they transfer to a university to complete their bachelor's degree. Only 30 students are selected each year to be a part of the incoming cohort.
Benefits of Being a STEM Scholar at AC
- Cohort model for accountability and peer support
- Lunch & Learns with exposure to career field experts
- Workshops on financial literacy, communication, resume building, professionalism, etc.
- Job and/or research shadowing
- Internship opportunities
- Additional opportunities for STEM scholarships and transfer scholarships
- One-on-one advising and mentoring sessions
STEM Scholars Pathway
Summer Bridge I 
Year 1 Summer Bridge II Year 2
Summer Bridge I
After applying and being accepted, students begin with an intensive 6-week summer bridge program at the Washington Street campus where they will complete:
- Two courses (Educational Frameworks AND either College Algebra, Trigonometry, or Chemistry) that are paid for fully by our grant
- A Project-based learning section
- REP4 group project and presentations
- Built-in tutoring sessions for support and proven success
- Exposure to STEM field careers through tours and/or professional speakers and workshops
Year 1 & Year 2
During the academic year, the student must complete the following to remain an active member of the STEM Scholars program and meet the minimum requirements to be eligible to apply for the STEM Excellence Scholarship.
- Complete at least 12 semester credit hours (Washington St. campus only)
- Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA
- Attend mentoring sessions at least twice a semester
- Attend monthly Lunch and Learn sessions
- Complete any program evaluations
Summer Bridge II
The summer after their first year, a student must either:
- Enroll in at least 3 hrs (typically English 1302) and participate in class research shadowing
- OR complete an approved STEM internship
STEM Excellence Scholarship
STEM Scholars who successfully complete the pathway are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Students are notified of the application and deadline each summer to apply for the scholarship that will be awarded that Fall/Spring. This is a competitive scholarship and only 30 students from all cohorts (Year 1 and Year 2) of STEM Scholars will be selected. The scholarship is $3000; $1,500 distributed in the Fall and $1,500 in the Spring.