The Future is Bright

On July 30, the 2021 inaugural class of the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) was welcomed at a virtual gathering of several hundred students, family, friends and corporate partners. The event celebrated our 151 FOSSI Scholars, who are from 28 states and will attend 26 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) this fall.  

Representing the four FOSSI Founding Partners, June Wispelwey, Executive Director and CEO of AIChE®, Mark Vergnano, Chairman of the Board of Chemours, Chris Jahn, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Ashley Christopher, Founder and CEO of HBCU Week Foundation spoke to guests about the goals of the initiative and what to expect in the year ahead. Wispelwey also introduced scholars to AIChE’s Fundamentals of Success program, a mix of virtual career development workshops, on-demand learning, live virtual meetings and networking opportunities with fellow FOSSI scholars and corporate partners. 

Guests enjoyed videos highlighting FOSSI Scholars and corporate partners, and the event culminated in an inspirational keynote and words of wisdom from incoming AIChE President, Dr. Christine Grant. Dr. Grant advised students to “partner with people who promote intellectual, mental and spiritual growth, and above all, be true to yourself.”

As we welcome our inaugural class of scholars, we are preparing to open the application process for 2022.  We encourage all to share this transformative opportunity with family, friends, teachers, counselors, community leaders and potential future FOSSI scholars!  

FOSSI is a core initiative of the AIChE Doing a World of Good campaign and its All for Good: Engineering for Inclusion priority, which is driving industry-wide improvement in equity, diversity and inclusion. 

Join us today in underwriting a FOSSI Scholar.

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