SCC Awarded $2 Million S-STEM Grant to support MSSE Program
Published on Sep 12, 2025
Pictured from left to right: Professor Debra House; Instructor Blaine Mullins; Math and Science Club President
Caden Bastin; MSSE scholars Zachary Brown, Jason Escobar, Ian Dunlap, Conor Denney,
Caden Bryant, Marissa Graham, Marcus Howard, Lyndsey Spillman, Daylan Dungan, Christina
Aleman, Nicholas Wernimont, and Jacob McRoberts.
Somerset Community College (SCC) is proud to announce the awarding of a $2 million S-STEM grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to enhance the college's Mathematics and Science Scholar Excellence (MSSE) Program. This significant funding opportunity will provide 63 percent of its total allocation directly to student scholarships, prioritizing academically talented students with financial need.
The S-STEM grant will assist SCC in supporting its growing MSSE community, which focuses on promoting essential fields of mathematics, biology, engineering, chemistry, and physics. Scholarships will be designated for students as a last-dollar resource, supplementing other forms of aid to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent capable students from pursuing their education.
“We are so excited about the renewal of our S-STEM grant and the potential it has to reach more students,” said Debra House, Professor of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy. “Our MSSE community has grown over the past three years, and this renewal will allow us to expand the program even further. I look forward to providing more scholarship assistance to students by welcoming them into our S-STEM group at SCC.”
The MSSE program not only supports academic achievement but also builds a collaborative community for students. Participants are encouraged to engage with the Math and Science Club and other MSSE scholars, partake in community service, and attend college visits designed to showcase opportunities for transfer to four-year universities. Monthly meetings facilitate support and growth in students' interests in STEM fields.
“This grant will support up to 44 students annually, a remarkable increase from our previous grant that supported up to 10 students each year,” remarked April Kilgore, Professor of Biology and Associate Dean of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. “We are thrilled to continue providing financial support to our STEM scholar students, and we look forward to seeing the growth these scholarships will foster.”
The grant aims to specifically benefit rural communities within SCC’s service area, offering critical resources and support for underserved populations. By enhancing access to education, the program seeks to encourage graduation and the pursuit of four-year degrees after community college, ultimately fostering a stronger workforce in STEM fields.
For further information about the growing MSSE program and how you can get involved and be considered for an MSSE scholarship, please email debra.house@kctcs.edu.
