{"id":14611,"date":"2023-08-14T14:55:37","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T18:55:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/?p=14611"},"modified":"2023-08-14T14:58:21","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T18:58:21","slug":"umes-welcomes-inaugural-cohort-of-students-in-stem-stars-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/umes-welcomes-inaugural-cohort-of-students-in-stem-stars-program\/","title":{"rendered":"UMES welcomes inaugural cohort of students in STEM STARS program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Aug. 6, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore welcomed 10 new Hawks as the inaugural cohort for the STEM STARS (Students Achieving Results in Science)  program, a program made possible by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Driving Change award. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is one of six universities and the first Historically Black University to receive the $2.5 million grant that is to be dispersed over the next five years. The purpose of Driving Change, launched in 2019, is to \u201ccreate inclusive environments, promote student success, and recognize the institutional practices and historical context that are barriers to inclusion,\u201d according to the HHMI.<\/p>\n\n\n

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(L-R) Alleyah Britton, Paul Foster, Qureyin Wilkinson, Victoria Casteel, Emmanuel Johnson III, Eli Ward, Amaris Cary, Lena Spiller, Gilbert Pinkett III, and Makai Martin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Alleyah Britton <\/strong>(Laurel, Md.), Paul Foster <\/strong>(Accokeek, Md.), Qureyin Wilkinson <\/strong>(Gaithersburg, Md.), Victoria Casteel <\/strong>(Largo, Md.), Emmanuel<\/strong> Johnson III <\/strong>(Gaithersburg, Md.), Eli Ward <\/strong>(Cheltenham, Pa.), Amaris Cary <\/strong>(Baltimore, Md.), Lena Spiller <\/strong>(Oahu, Hawaii), Gilbert Pinkett III <\/strong>(Townsend, Del.), and Makai Martin <\/strong>(Nokesville, Va.) are the students in the inaugural cohort of the STEM STARS program. The STEM STARS program is a living-learning, cohort model where students immerse themselves into the university\u2019s culture and activities that support collegiate goals. The students\u2019 programs of study include aviation management, biology (pre-med and pre-veterinary science), computer science, engineering (mechanical), environmental science,  and exercise science. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is one of the most comprehensive scholarships that we have at UMES,\u201d said Dr. Tiara Cornelius, Executive Director of the STEM STARS program. \u201cIt covers nearly everything which is practically unheard of for students who are enrolled in STEM programs and planning to pursue PhDs or MDPhDs (programs that provide training in both medicine and research) in STEM. Our goal is to increase the number of students of color who have PhDs because we represent such a small percentage of people with PhDs overall,\u201d said Dr. Cornelius on the program\u2019s goal and impact for students in STEM. She is also the Chairperson and an Associate Professor in UMES\u2019 Department of Mathematics.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The inaugural cohort of new Hawks in the STEM STARS program were welcomed by President Heidi M. Anderson (center) and members of her cabinet including (L-R) Anastasia Rodriguez (Vice President of Administration and Finance), Dr. Robert Mock (Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff), Dr. Rondall Allen (Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs), and Latoya Jenkins (Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Experience.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Lena Spiller whose career goal is to become \u201ca captain at a major airline and possibly start a scholarship for aspiring pilots\u201d shared her hopes for her experience in the STEM STARS program saying  \u201cWith STEM STARS, I am hoping to improve my work ethic and maintain my self-discipline. Through the program\u2019s professional development classes and events, I am hoping to network and become better adapted to the UMES campus. Moreover, my UMES experience should provide me with a glimpse of adult life and a look into my career field. Hopefully, UMES provides me with a support system and strong social connections that I will also take with me as I enter adulthood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing a part of the first cohort of STEM STARS means I am setting the example. I am the inspiration. And I am that role model that future generations will look up to. As the youngest child, this is contrary to what I am used to, nonetheless a learning experience that will only allow me to grow,\u201d said Spiller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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President Heidi M. Anderson<\/strong> commended the inaugural cohort on their new status as she cited her experience in a similar summer program. \u201cYou are special because you are the first cohort. This is a special program and you are going to help us soar above and beyond,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program is a welcome addition to the institution, which has awarded 60 percent of its degrees in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math in the last several years. UMES, a Carnegie R2 doctoral research university, also has the most healthcare professions programs of any HBCU with eight, which also contributes to its STEM success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce I got the scholarship for the STEM STARS program and I found out about the activities and the path we\u2019d be blazing, I was 100 percent onboard,\u201d said Emmanuel Johnson III who will be studying exercise science at UMES.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always played sports so I was always interested in sports medicine. I also like helping people so physical therapy is something I\u2019d like to do and with exercise science, I can go into that field,\u201d Johnson said about his career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n

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As the inaugural cohort, the STEM STARS students participated in a team building exercise during the orientation event in the new School of Pharmacy and Health Professions building.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThe STEM STARS program at UMES is a monumental opportunity to help drive change in STEM and exemplify the power of the UMES education and experience. We anticipate being a part of our student\u2019s villages to help them achieve their educational goals and aiding them in helping to meet the needs of society through the sciences, soaring above and beyond,\u201d Dr. Anderson said on her vision for the program\u2019s impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By Tahja Cropper<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos: Joey Gardner<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Aug. 6, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore welcomed 10 new Hawks as the inaugural cohort for the STEM STARS (Students Achieving Results in Science)  program, a program made possible by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Driving Change award. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is one of six universities and the first…Read more UMES welcomes inaugural cohort of students in STEM STARS program<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":14609,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","wds_primary_category":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[95,99,40,93,90,98,103,91,92,101,45,89,106,105,97,104,100,96,94,88,62,87,44,48,102],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-14611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-alleyah-britton","tag-amaris-cary","tag-aviation","tag-biology","tag-driving-change","tag-eli-ward","tag-emmanuel-johnson-iii","tag-engineering","tag-exercise-science","tag-gilbert-pinkett-iii","tag-hbcu","tag-hhmi","tag-inaugural-cohort-of-stem-stars-students","tag-inuagural-cohort","tag-lena-spiller","tag-makai-martin","tag-paul-foster","tag-qureyin-wilkinson","tag-scholarship","tag-science","tag-stem","tag-stem-stars","tag-umes","tag-university-of-maryland-eastern-shore","tag-victoria-casteel"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14611\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14611"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=14611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}