Comp Sci/Engineering/Math Scholarship Program Names First Recipients

HOLLAND - The first six recipients have been named in a new scholarship program at Hope College designed to encourage students to study computer science, engineering or mathematics.

The "retention scholarships," available through the college's CSEMS program, have been awarded to six first-year students enrolled in introductory courses in one of the three disciplines during the college's current fall semester, which concludes on Friday, Dec. 17. The awards begin with the forthcoming spring semester.

The six recipients are:
Ruth Arevalo of Brookfield, Wis., a 2004 graduate of Brookfield Central High School
Cameron Calka of Livonia, a 2004 graduate of Stevenson High School
Kevin Formsma of Zeeland, a 2004 graduate of Holland Christian High School
Martha Precup of Boyne City, a 2004 graduate of Concord Academy
Jeffrey Reed of DeWitt, a 2004 graduate of DeWitt High School
Laura Schaedig of Cedarville, a 2004 graduate of Cedarville High School

"I am delighted to have these six people as the initial recipients of this scholarship," said Dr. Herb Dershem, who is a professor of computer science and the grant's administrator. "It happens that there are two students from each of the three disciplines: computer science, engineering and mathematics. All of them are eager to continue study in their chosen field with the assistance of these scholarships over the next four years."

The scholarship program is funded through a $398,040 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). There will be 30 more scholarship recipients during the next two years, including a total of 24 incoming freshmen--12 each fall--starting in 2005 as recipients of "recruitment scholarships," and another six recipients of "retention scholarships" beginning in the spring of 2006.

Dershem noted that the program's goals include encouraging enrollment among members of minority groups and women, who are traditionally underrepresented in the three disciplines nationally. Recruiting activities are emphasizing high schools in western Michigan that have high minority enrollments.

Each scholarship is for a maximum of $3,125 per year, as much as is allowed by the NSF program that awarded the funding, according to Dershem. Based on the students' eligibility, including continued progress toward one of the target majors and demonstrated financial need, the recipients will hold their scholarships through their fourth year of undergraduate study.

Additional activities being developed in anticipation of the recruited students include a First-Year Seminar that Dershem will teach emphasizing problem-solving using the three fields, peer mentoring by other students in the departments and events for all of the students in the scholarship program.

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