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FOSSI Scholarship Applications Open at Annual HBCU Week Foundation College Fair

Program Announces 2025 Application Launch & Expansion through 2028

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Kelly Montes de Oca
CONTACT US
Future of STEM Scholars Initiative

WILMINGTON (September 27, 2024) – Today, the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) launched its 2025 scholarship application period, providing opportunities for high school seniors to apply for $40,000 scholarships in preferred science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

For the fourth consecutive year, FOSSI launched the application at the HBCU Week Foundation’s Wilmington College Fair. This annual event brings together thousands of students, educators and HBCUs representatives to support student enrollment and offer scholarship opportunities.

FOSSI aims to create pathways for students to thrive in STEM and become future leaders in the chemical industry. While already recognized for its achievements, FOSSI continues to grow and has an ambitious goal to award 1000 scholarships. To support this goal, FOSSI also announced it will expand the program for an additional three years, bringing in new classes of scholarship recipients through 2028.

800+
scholarships funded

To date, FOSSI has raised nearly $40 million in sponsor commitments to fund more than 800 scholarships. Each recipient is paired with a dedicated corporate sponsor from a pool of more than 80 chemical companies and affiliated industry stakeholders to help them achieve their educational and career goals.

This fall, FOSSI welcomed 150 new scholars who are attending 26 HBCUs. FOSSI now has ~600 scholars from more than 30 states across the country enrolled at nearly 50 HBCUs.

2024 FOSSI scholarship recipient, Camille Pair, shared how receiving the FOSSI scholarship is helping her pursue a chemical engineering degree at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, “FOSSI scholarship support will ensure I can complete school and pursue my dreams…. This scholarship has relieved me of a huge financial burden, and I now see continuing my higher education as a possibility. I can begin to save money for future degrees instead of taking out loans. I am also excited to join the FOSSI community, collaborate with fellow STEM students, and work with the sponsoring partners."

The deadline for high school seniors to apply is January 31. Applications can be submitted at www.FutureOfSTEMScholars.org/apply.

Sponsorship opportunities for 2025 scholarships will be open until April 1.
Pledge your FOSSI support today!

Future of STEM Scholars Initiative

The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative was founded in 2020 by the American Chemistry Council, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), The Chemours Company, and the HBCU Week Foundation. FOSSI is a national chemical industry-wide program which provides scholarships to students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), helping to eliminate financial barriers for historically under-represented groups. Sponsored by chemical manufacturers and related industry stakeholders, FOSSI provides scholarship recipients $10,000 per year for four years and connects these students to leadership development, mentoring and internship opportunities at participating companies. Learn more at FutureofSTEMscholars.org. 

American Chemistry Council

The American Chemistry Council’s mission is to advocate for the people, policy, and products of chemistry that make the United States the global leader in innovation and manufacturing. To achieve this, we: Champion science-based policy solutions across all levels of government; Drive continuous performance improvement to protect employees and communities through Responsible Care®; Foster the development of sustainability practices throughout ACC member companies; and Communicate authentically with communities about challenges and solutions for a safer, healthier and more sustainable way of life. Our vision is a world made better by chemistry, where people live happier, healthier, and more prosperous lives, safely and sustainably—for generations to come.

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