NSF Grant Recipients

01.26.2009

LONGMEADOW, Mass.—A combined total of $55,000 in scholarships has been awarded to 20 Bay Path College undergraduates, ranging from first-year to seniors, as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholars Program. The NSF scholarships will supplement the recipients’ current financial aid packages, and ultimately reduce or limit their overall financial debt. Supported by an NSF grant totaling more than $500,000, the NSF Scholars Program is designed to attract and retain undergraduate women, especially minority students, aspiring careers in biology, biology—secondary education, biotechnology, or forensic science. This year’s recipients are pursuing bachelor degrees in biology or forensic science.

“From my coursework and internship at Baystate Medical Center to my experiences at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Summer Institute, Bay Path has always provided opportunities for me to succeed in forensic science, and the NSF scholarship is just one more way Bay Path has helped me achieve my dream,” West Newbury resident and scholarship recipient Bethany Krzcuik-Locke ’09 said. “The scholarship will allow me to finish my senior year, and reduce the student loans I will need to pay back as I prepare for the next chapter of my life.”

The NSF grant ensures that academically talented, but financially challenged students who wish to pursue a career in the sciences will receive scholarships and additional financial assistance. The grant also provides funding for work-study and research internships in a student’s given field of interest, allowing her to develop valuable career experience while earning money. Finally, a book fund will be established to aid students in purchasing increasingly expensive science textbooks.

NSF scholarships may total up to $10,000 per year for four years, and are available to qualified students. Massachusetts residents receiving NSF scholarships include Bay Path students majoring in forensic science or biology. In addition to Krzcuik-Locke, forensic science majors receiving scholarships for Spring 2009 include: Brittany Castagna ’12 of Chester; Vanessa Chaplin ’12 of Attleboro; Brianna Inman ’12 of Westhampton; and Audrey Rowen ’12 of Boxford. Recipients Siobhan Conley ’09 of Bridgewater; Amanda Boileau ’11 of West Springfield; Stefany Bushey ’11 of Chicopee; Brianna McLaughlin ’11 of Southampton; and Westfield resident Wendy Wheatley, an incoming student for Spring ’09, are pursuing their bachelor of science in biology.

Four undergraduates from Connecticut were awarded NSF scholarships. Catherine Aldrich ’11 of Torrington, and Alyson St. Germain ’11 of Broad Brook, both of whom are enrolled in Bay Path’s biology program, and Bay Path forensic science majors Devon Hill ’10 of Rocky Hill, and Nicole Sattler ’10 of Southington also received the significant scholarship awards.

Other recipients include: Brittany Shields ’10 of Metairie, LA, who is enrolled in Bay Path’s biology program, and forensic science majors Kristal Cormier ‘10 of Rochester, NH; Ashley Weils ’09 of Fort Ann, NY; Samantha Berrios ’12 of New York, NY; Melanie Decker ’11 of Port Jervis, NY; and Kristen Elsner of ‘11 of Providence, RI.

In addition to the NSF Scholars Program, the NSF grant will allow the College to expand several learning approaches through a cohort model that enables students to succeed in the sciences, including, group tutoring by peers and professionals, study groups, and opportunities for faculty mentoring. Equally important, the grant will fund professional and career development activities to connect students to internships, research and employment opportunities.

Bay Path remains committed to providing students an affordable, high quality education, enabling them to succeed in their chosen careers. The lowest price of any private college in Western Massachusetts, Bay Path gives 100 percent of new full-time students a guaranteed scholarship or grant. The average total aid package for students with financial need in the Class of 2012 was $22,000. Students can qualify for merit scholarships worth up to $13,000 a year as well as prestigious National Science Foundation scholarships that can provide up to $10,000 a year for four years.

“As part of our College’s five-year plan, we focused on significant investments in science education,” President Carol A. Leary stated. “In many ways, this decision mirrors the College’s philosophy of developing academic programs and disciplines that are in direct response to the talents of our women in science and the changing workforce. With the NSF grant, we have created a win-win situation for both our students and the Commonwealth’s economy, and it is a great honor to award our first NSF scholarships to these gifted young women, who will become future researchers, scientists, investigators, and health care professionals.”