2012-2013 Community College STEM Scholarship Program
The 2012-2013 application period is open through February 24, 2012.

The Community College STEM Scholarship provides a one-year, non-renewable award of $1,000 for students enrolled full time (minimum of 12 credit hours) at one of North Carolina’s Community Colleges. Students must be majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field and be interested in pursuing a career that supports NASA's mission including careers in the aerospace sector.

The goal of this scholarship opportunity is to encourage talented individuals to pursue studies in technical fields, math, engineering and the sciences. Students must apply during their freshman year of community college enrollment for an award that will begin in the sophomore year. The number of awards is contingent on available funding. This is a competitive scholarship program based on academic merit funded by NASA and State of North Carolina, with the following objectives:

• Encouraging students engaged in associate degree programs who are preparing for careers in technology fields essential to America’s industrial and technological competitiveness, particularly those with aerospace relevance;
• Recognizing high academic achievement and promise;
• Increasing participation of underrepresented minorities, females and students with disabilities in aeronautics, space and high-technology fields;
• Implementing the goals of the NC Space Grant Consortium and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Eligibility Requirements
The Community College STEM Scholarship applicant must be:

• A permanent United States citizen
• Enrolled full time in a NC Community College and have completed at least one semester of coursework (minimum of 12 credit hours)
• Pursuing an Associate degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) discipline
• In good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0).

Applying for a Community College STEM Scholarship

The 2012-2013 application period is open through February 24, 2012.

Apply here.

Interested students must complete an online application (see link above). Please read all program guidelines including applicant eligibility and reporting requirements before submitting your application. The application must be submitted online and all information must be complete or the application will not be reviewed. The key components of the application are discussed in more detail below.

• Statement of your academic and career goals - a brief statement by the applicant relating to how his/her degree will help him/her prepare for a technical career in aerospace or a STEM field that will support NASA's mission. Indicate how plans for future academic preparation include pursuing an undergraduate four-year degree or beyond.
• Letters of Recommendation - provide the names and contact information for two references of which one must be the applicant’s current faculty advisor. Letters of recommendation should assess the applicant’s technical and/or academic potential as well as his/her progress and academic achievements. NC Space Grant will contact both references via email to request a letter of recommendation on behalf of the applicant. References will be provided with a link to submit the recommendation. For the application to be complete, both letters of recommendation must be submitted by the mentioned due date. NC Space Grant suggests that applicants contact the references listed and inform them that they will receive an email requesting this information on their behalf (applications@spacegrant.org).
• Transcript - An unofficial transcript with all grades through fall semester 2011 is required and can be submitted as a PDF in the online application. If the applicant is selected to receive an award then an official transcript will be required at acceptance. If the applicant does not have a PDF conversion tool, links to free on-line PDF converters are provided in the application.

Awardee Requirements

• Academic progress, including degree granted (if applicable)
• The impact the award has made on plans to pursue future technical training or a baccalaureate or higher degree
• Significant results of the recipient’s experience (e.g. a list of presentations made, awards or honors)
• Employment or future educational plans.

• Provide a photo and biographical information upon selection;
• Inform the Consortium of changes of address; and
• Respond to academic and employment follow-up surveys administered by NC Space Grant as required by NASA.
• Discuss his/her studies in public forums (as needed).

Disposition of Unused Funds

If an awardee terminates his/her academic program during the 2012–2013 academic year, the Community College is required to return a prorated share of the scholarship award to the NC Space Grant.

For questions, please contact:
Tom Knott, Technology and Communications Specialist
NC Space Grant
911 Oval Drive
Engineering Building III, Room 4171
NC State University
Campus Box 7515
Raleigh, NC 27695-7515
tom_knott@ncsu.edu
(919) 515-4240

Previous Student Award Recipients:
03-04 | 04-05 | 05-06 | 06-07 | 07-08 | 08-09 | 09-10 | 10-11 | 11-12