Davids Announces Federal Funding to Support 30 Low-Income, High-Achieving STEM Students in Kansas City, Kansas

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) a grant of $745,635 to support the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income STEM students. Over the next five years, the award will fund scholarships for 30 full-time students who are pursuing a degree with a biology emphasis.

"As someone who worked multiple jobs to help pay my way through community college, I understand the huge difference this scholarship will make for these 30 KCKCC students," said Davids. "I'm excited for the new support and mentorship opportunities the students will receive and applaud KCKCC's dedication to diversifying their academic programs."

"Kansas City Kansas Community College is excited to boost biology careers through student scholarships provided by the National Science Foundation grant," said Dr. Greg Mosier, KCKCC President. "This is an important opportunity to advance STEM careers in the state. We appreciate the opportunity to participate in this initiative."

The funding announced today benefits KCKCC's Building Biologists Using Assets for Scholar Success project, which works to increase graduation rates and pathways to the STEM workforce by linking scholarships with effective support services for low-income students. These services include mentoring, undergraduate research experiences, internship opportunities, and participation in presentations and workshops that showcase the demands and rewards of a career in STEM.

In August, Davids announced a similar NSF award of $1.4 million was given to Johnson County Community College for their STEM Scholars Program. This program shares the mission of KCKCC's — supporting low-income, high-achieving students in the STEM field.

Davids has been a staunch supporter of education and STEM workforce in the Kansas Third District, previously announcing federal funding to improve college readiness through KCKCC's Upward Bound program and securing $1.9 million for their Automation Engineering Technology Program, allowing students to train on new, real-life automation equipment as they prepare to enter the manufacturing workforce.

More information on KCKCC's award and the Building Biologists Using Assets for Scholar Success project can be found here.