Many talented students in programs in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CSTEM) at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) face the challenge of balancing a rigorous, lab-intensive curriculum with part-time or even full-time employment just to meet basic financial needs. This burden is especially significant for students from our economically depressed service region of Eastern Kentucky, as well as for those from groups historically underrepresented in the STEM disciplines. A large number of these students are also the first in their families to attend college.
“By expanding need-based and merit-based scholarship opportunities, we can help remove financial barriers that hinder student success. These scholarships enable students to focus more fully on their academic goals, research, and professional development, rather than on financial survival. Investing in scholarships means investing in the potential of our students to become leaders in STEM disciplines,” said Dr. Tom Otieno, dean of the College of STEM.
The College of STEM is committed to providing a transformational educational experience that supports both academic and personal growth. “We foster student success and lifelong achievement by ensuring access to high-impact educational practices that go beyond traditional classroom learning,” Dr. Otieno said.
These opportunities include faculty-student research collaborations, participation in academic conferences, internships, service learning projects, study abroad experiences, and more. In addition, the College of STEM offers vital support services such as free tutoring and peer mentoring. These practices not only enhance student engagement and retention but also prepare our graduates to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
We are delighted to showcase a small sampling of students impacted by the generous gifts of our alumni, donors, and grants below.
Name: Ms. Uchechi Anyanwu
Major: Data Science
Classification: Junior
Purpose of Support: Study abroad in Barcelona, Spain
Source of Support: College of STEM Endowment for Student Success
What did achieving this award mean to you?
Receiving this award was an honor as it gave me the ability to study abroad in Spain with less financial stress. I stayed in Barcelona for 3 weeks in May, taking a course on the peoples of Spain with Professor Marina Díaz.
This class taught me the history of Spanish people and how they’ve evolved in culture, language, policies, and beyond. I got to meet such a diverse pool of people, try new foods, participate in unfamiliar activities, and truly live like a local in Barcelona. As a Data Science student, this experience made me realize the significance of cultural context in how we understand data. At the end of every dataset are real people with authentic behaviors and backgrounds.
These people all have histories that impact the trends and observations we analyze. For my final project in the class, we studied different immigrant populations in Barcelona and how they live. My group delved into Chinese immigration in Barcelona and examined how demographic and economic data reflect deeper stories, like how Chinese-owned grocery stores and restaurants serve not just as businesses, but as tools for cultural preservation and community resilience.
Being immersed in a new culture emphasized my curiosity, enhanced my observational skills, and provided me with a greater awareness to think through data in a way that is ethical and empathetic across global spaces. Returning from Barcelona was humbling. It made me aware of how much of the world is still left for me to experience, and how much of the world and its cultures are still unknown.
So, I would like to truly thank the College of STEM for their ongoing support and committed role in making my study abroad experience and endeavors a reality and memorable.
Name: Ms. Gwen Carter
Major: Computer Science
Classification: Senior
Purpose of Support: Academic Scholarship
Source of Support: The Non-Endowed Booth Scholarship Program for STEM
What did achieving this award mean to you?
The Booth Scholarship Program STEM has really helped me focus on my studies without having to worry about money. As someone who did not have the option for financial assistance from my parents, I was always worried about how I could afford to go to college. Thanks to EKU and the Booth scholarship I was able to complete my education! Having my college paid for has really brought me a peace of mind that I would have never had otherwise. In addition, it has allowed me to plan for a future without having the worry of a large amount of debt looming over me.
Name: Ms. Madeline Mann
Major: MS Biology
Classification: Graduate Student
Purpose of Support: Lilley Cornett Woods Field Camp attendance to present research at the William H. Martin Appalachian Research Symposium
Source of Support: Anonymous Donor
What did achieving this award mean to you?
Achieving this award has allowed me to not only share what my hard work has produced but also to meet incredible people who inspire me through their dedication to understanding, conserving, and rehabilitating the land around us. After two years of strenuous academic and field research, field camp gave me the chance to deepen my connection to nature and recapture why I value the study of biology so much: the gift of recognizing surrounding biodiversity as well as the complex interactions that make our world so special. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the donor of this award.
Name: Ms. Brianna Neilan
Major: Forensic Science, concentrations in Forensic Biology and Forensic Chemistry
Classification: Recent Graduate
Purpose of Support: Internship
Source of Support: Robert Fraas Forensic Science Internship Scholarship
What did achieving this award mean to you?
Achieving the Robert Fraas Forensic Science Internship Scholarship award meant a great deal to me because it recognized the hard work and dedication I put into my internship. This internship was an incredible experience that further developed my passion for forensic science and provided valuable real-world experience. This has helped me determine my research interests, get admitted into graduate school, and gain skills that I will carry forward in my career.
Name: Ms. Helena Panek
Major: Forensic Science Major with Forensic Chemistry Concentration and a Minor in Statistics
Classification: Junior
Purpose of Support: Recognition for academic achievement and support for others. (The Aaron Schmidt Memorial Scholarship was established to recognize and reward the efforts of a rising sophomore who has a passion for not only science, but also for sharing science with others through tutoring and peer mentoring)
Source of Support: The Aaron Schmidt Endowed Memorial Scholarship
What did achieving this award mean to you?
Getting this award means a lot to me, but it did not come about because of my efforts alone. I would like to thank everyone who trusted me to help them with their assignments and questions throughout the semester. It really means a lot to be able to be that person that people go to when they need help. Sometimes it is very difficult to ask for help or to know when you need it. I know this from personal experience, but being able to have someone you know help you through the difficulties makes the process a whole lot easier. I am always willing to help my friends and fellow students when they need it, because everyone needs a little help now and again. I have always loved helping my community back home, so I am very happy that I have been able to do that here at EKU as well.
Name: Ms. Hannah Schwier
Major: Biomedical Sciences with a Pre-medical concentration
Classification: Senior
Purpose of Support: Peer Mentor in the Department of Biological Sciences’ Peer Mentoring Center
Source of Support: The Dr. Nelson D. Horseman Endowment for Student Success
What did achieving this award mean to you?
I think to me, the most valuable thing about being a tutor at the Peer Mentoring Center is helping those students who are in the same position that I was in before. It has been a rewarding experience getting to watch those students grow and succeed. Tutoring is more than giving information, it is being able to create social relationships and provide some emotional support to those who are struggling. These are skills that I will take with me after I graduate.
Name: Mr. Brennan S. Shuler
Major: Chemistry with a Biochemistry concentration
Classification: Senior
Purpose of Support: Faculty-student undergraduate research collaborations
Source of Support: The Richard and Mary Steele Memorial Endowed Scholarship
What did achieving this award mean to you?
The Richard and Mary Steele Memorial Scholarship represents reassurance. It is difficult at times to deal with stress, heavy workloads, and impostor syndrome, and I believe most students have moments where they question whether they are meant to be in the field they are getting their degree for.
But every award and opportunity that I have been granted thus far while pursuing my degree helps me feel that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. There are people far more knowledgeable than I am, with experience in the field of chemistry that dwarfs my own tenfold, who see potential in me and feel like I am worth investing in. That kind of encouragement means a great deal to me.
I would like to express my gratitude to the donor of this scholarship and to my mentor Dr. Ben Wicker, for helping me in my study of the central science.
Name: Mr. Keegan Swafford
Major: Physics
Classification: Senior
Purpose of Support: Financial support to travel and present research at the annual Division of Nuclear Physics conference in the Conference Experience for Undergraduates (CEU) program
Source of Support: The NSF PHY-2412846 Grant to Dr. Jason Fry
What did achieving this award mean to you?
Presenting at this conference was a big deal for me. Academically, it was the first time that I had ever presented my research at any sort of conference, much less a large national one. Personally, it allowed me to travel to and experience places that would have otherwise been very difficult for me to see.
As someone who had never flown out of the state before attending this conference, the experience was a great way for me to expand my horizons. Overall, I believe that the conference allowed me to grow both personally and professionally!