On Monday, July 31, the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) celebrated and welcomed 132 new FOSSI scholars at a virtual gathering of 300 students, family, friends and corporate partners.
With the addition of the new class, FOSSI now boasts 430 scholars from 32 states who are enrolled at 42 HBCUs across the country.
Watch the 2023 FOSSI scholar welcome video that was shared with participants at the beginning of the virtual event.
The leading voices
During the hour-long program, guests heard from a distinguished line-up of speakers including Ashley Christopher, Founder and CEO of HBCU Week Foundation; FOSSI Chair and Dow Chairman & CEO Jim Fitterling; Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC); Chemours SVP & Chief Brand Officer, Alvenia Scarborough; and Dr. Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs.
Christopher, a double HBCU alum, congratulated the new students and said that she founded
HBCU Week Foundation with a very small goal in mind. “I wanted to reach back to students who looked like me and to expose them to all of the benefits that come with going to an HBCU, adding that “attending an HBCU was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.”
Words from Fitterling, FOSSI chair
Fitterling welcomed the new students and spoke of the transformative power of a career in the chemical industry. “De-carbonization doesn’t happen without our products and technologies. A circular economy doesn’t occur without us leading the way. Greater recycling, new electric battery technology, stronger and 
more resilient food crops and better food protection. None of that gets done without us. So if you want to change the world and make a difference, welcome — because the future starts right here.”
He continued, “We want to ensure that we’re getting the best talent, the most engaged talent and, importantly, the most diverse talent we can. Nothing in our industry gets done without people like you.”
Congresswoman Adams discusses the importance of HBCUs
Congresswoman Alma Adams, Chair and Founder of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus and fondly known as the “Godmother of HBCUs” thanked FOSSI for helping to alleviate barriers to education, citing the critical importance of scholarships and grant funding to empower HBCU students, and got a
rousing reaction from scholars when she remarked “since I’ve used the word empower, I just want to say that “I am HBCU strong.”
She also noted that investing in HBCUS will lead to a more diverse workforce, bring increased productivity, increased creativity, improved cultural awareness, and more opportunity. Citing some impressive statistics she shared that HBCUs provide 27% of the African-American STEM workforce, 40% of African-American engineers, 50% of African-American lawyers, 50% of African-American public school teachers, and 80 percent of African-American judges.
Scarborough lays out program benefits and expectations
Alvenia Scarborough followed Congresswoman Adams, and spoke of Chemours use of chemistry to create a better world — in labs to create sustainable innovations, and the interpersonal kind to connect and embrace people from all communities. “That belief is a north star for us and one of the reasons that we at Chemours are a proud founding partner of FOSSI.”
She then led students through a brief orientation on the benefits and expectations of FOSSI, and encouraged them to fully embrace the experience, noting “you are about to embark on one of the most important, memorable and defining journeys of your life. Our goal is to help you finish college well-positioned for a great career with one of 70+ FOSSI sponsor companies.”
AIChE’s new program lead for the FOSSI Fundamentals of Success, Adrienne Blanks, was introduced as the “go to” person for scholars for all things FOSSI and shared an essential piece of advice: “Check Your Email!”
Closing remarks
Final speaker Dr. Dietra Trent praised scholars for their incredible achievement, adding “today, one of America’s most prestigious industries has declared the value they place on HBCUs by the investment and
commitment they have made in you.”
She joked that Congresswoman Adams had forgotten one important statistic: “that HBCUs provided 100% of the black, female Vice Presidents!”
In closing she told scholars, “I need you to know that you matter. I need you to know that the decision you made to pursue STEM matters, and we all are standing behind you to ensure you succeed.”
Watch the full event below!
We invite companies not currently supporting FOSSI to build their pipeline of outstanding and diverse talent by supporting a FOSSI scholar. Learn more.