$972,598 Awarded to Gaston College for STEM Student Support

The National Science Foundation (NSF) notified Gaston College yesterday of a grant award in the amount of $972,598 for the project titled:  SPARC³ Initiative: Alleviating Transfer Shock in Community College STEM Students.

The project is an expansion and scale-up of the SPARC³ program at Gaston College that has resulted in improved academic scores and associate degree completion for participating students. We are grateful for the faculty and staff who have provided leadership in the development of the project including Ashley Hagler, Principal Investigator. The project is also supported by Dr. Melissa Armstrong, Dr. Virginie Maggiotti, and Dr. Heather Woodson, co-Principal Investigators.

During each year of the project, ten eligible students enrolled in a STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) Associate of Science (A.S) program at the College will be selected for a two-year scholarship and will participate in faculty and peer mentoring as well as targeted advising designed to promote successful transfer to a STEM degree program at a four-year university. Upon completion of the A.S. program, these students will be eligible for an additional one-year transfer scholarship to any four-year university to assist them in the completion of an approved STEM degree.

The project is the third NSF award to Gaston College to support the SPARC³ program since 2014.  Since then, SPARC³ has awarded 74 scholarships to students pursuing a STEM degree, the majority of whom continue their education at a four-year institution after graduating from Gaston College. 

For more information on the NSF award and the SPARC³ program, please contact Ashley Hagler, SPARC3 Director at 704-922-6529 or Hagler.ashley@gaston.edu