STEM Program at STCC Lauded for Supporting Women, Underrepresented Students

SPRINGFIELD —The STEM Starter Academy at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) received the Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from the magazine Insight Into Diversity.

The STEM Starter Academy (SSA) has been instrumental in creating opportunities for STCC students who might otherwise face significant barriers to entering and succeeding in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math).

SSA is designed to support STCC’s underrepresented student populations by providing equity and access to STEM majors and pathways and to promote positive and equitable outcomes through intense student support and guidance.

The Inspiring Programs in STEM award is a measure of an institution’s individual college programs and initiatives that encourage and support the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented students into all STEM fields. STCC was one of only two community colleges recognized for this award.

Lara Sharp, dean of the School of STEM, expressed pride in the program’s achievements and praised Samar Ghrear, director of the SSA, and her staff at the STEM Center.

“The STEM Starter Academy is a shining example of how targeted support and community engagement can make a significant difference in the lives of students,” Sharp said. “This award is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the program, from our staff and faculty to the students themselves.”

As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers several STEM-focused programs through the SSA, including the Student Success Program, which provides students with free resources and support services; the Summer Bridge Program, which gives students a head start before the start of the fall semester; College for Kids, which provides opportunities for preteen and teenage children to learn about STEM; the STEM Internship Program, which is for STEM majors who want to gain experience within their field of study; and the two- to four-year Summer STEM Transfer Academy, which prepares students who are ready to graduate and wish to transition to one of the Massachusetts public institutions.

Sharp said the award serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting underrepresented groups in their academic and professional journeys.

STCC is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, which requires that 25% of its students identify as Hispanic. Approximately 34% of STCC students identify as Latino/a/x. About 60% of STCC’s students identify as female, and 14% identify as Black.