Moraine Valley Community College’s Greer Scholars Program received the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
“Our Greer Scholars team is honored by the recognition and encouraged to learn that the work we are doing to support diverse STEM students in our Greer Scholars Program is on par with the proactive initiatives at institutions across the country,” said Dr. Paula DeAnda-Shah, associate professor of mathematics and STEM Center coordinator. “The partnership between the Greer Foundation and Moraine Valley’s Student Success Center, STEM Center, Foundation, and Science, Business and Computer Technology Subdivision has been a transformative experience for all of the faculty, staff and students involved.”
Greer Scholars Amin Kamni, Nicholas Barragan and Liam Deacy work on a lab assignment during their chemistry class.
Moraine Valley’s Greer Scholars Program will be featured, along with 82 other recipients, in the September 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine. Inspiring Programs in STEM Award winners were selected by Insight Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives.
“Over the last year, it has been a privilege to get to know and support our Greer Scholars as they navigated college and rigorous coursework, explored possibilities and participated in new STEM experiences,” DeAnda-Shah said. “This fall, we will welcome a second cohort of first-year STEM students and continue to support our first cohort through their second year as they prepare to transfer to their respective universities.”
A call for nominations for this award was announced in April 2024. Insight Into Diversity magazine selected the Greer Scholars Program because of the cross-disciplinary STEM experiences, financial and academic support and strong sense of community provided for students. In the short time since its founding in June 2023, the Greer Scholars Program has made many achievements, such as 100% retention of scholars from fall 2023 to the spring 2024 semester.
“We are excited about the growth of our Greer Scholars community and to continue to develop the program in meaningful ways that help our scholars prepare for their dream jobs in various STEM professions,” DeAnda-Shah said.
To learn more about Moraine Valley’s STEM Center, visit morainevalley.edu/stem.
For media inquiries, contact Amanda Layne, web content specialist, at (708) 974-5244 or laynea@morainevalley.edu.
