Kent State University has been awarded $1.5 million from the state of Ohio for the Choose Ohio First program that supports students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Among the 44 colleges and universities selected as the new Choose Ohio First award recipients in fiscal year 2022, Kent State is one of three institutions awarded the highest amount for scholarships, $1.5 million, which will be distributed over a five-year period.
The Choose Ohio First program began in 2008 as a way to increase the number of Ohio students enrolling in and successfully completing STEM programs at Ohio’s public and independent colleges and universities. The selected mathematics program at both Kent and Stark campuses will include a graduate program for teachers, and the program will also target emerging aeronautics and engineering programs at both the Kent and Tuscarawas campuses.
The university will leverage its programs at the Kent Campus with the university’s regional campuses to reach additional underserved populations and provide pathways for students to connect between two- and four-year programs in these disciplines. Recipients of the Choose Ohio First scholarships are required to participate in a work-based learning opportunity, such as a STEM internship, co-op or research experience, to help them transition effectively to the STEM workforce after graduation.
“Choose Ohio First resources will greatly enhance STEM education at Kent State, with a focus on mathematics and engineering, for a diverse population of Ohio students,” said Lique Coolen, Ph.D., associate dean of Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences and professor of biological sciences, who is the Choose Ohio First program contact for the university.