The second year of SAINTS Scholars cohorts at Felician University are ramped up and ready for a new year of science learning and sharing. In 2019, Felician University received a National Science Foundation Grant for the SAINTS Scholars Program which provides science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students in financial need with up to $6,000 a year in scholarship money that can be used for academics, book vouchers, or room and board to live on campus, provided they are biology, computer science, or cyber security majors.

“The SAINTS Scholars program is about more than just the scholarship money,” explains Dr. Patrick Weir, Associate Dean for Math and Science and Principal Investigator with the program. “We are trying to offer these students assistance. We had a peer tutor last year who was a senior and this year’s peer tutor is a senior, and even though she will be working with other students, her main focus will be working with the SAINTS Scholars.”

Other plans include a speaker series, early internships, and possible mentoring opportunities with industry partners with several individuals already agreeing to give talks as part of a SAINTS Scholars monthly seminar. All wonderful news for incoming Saints Scholar, Freshman Farelie Mendez who chatted with a senior over pizza at the Saints Scholars kick-off at Iviswold Castle, who says, “Is grateful for the chance to meet with people in the science fields.” Biology major and new cohort Ashley Rodriguez can’t wait to start the program. “I joined because I’m really looking forward to engaging in school, and having more opportunities for my career,” said the freshman who is studying to become a physician’s assistant. SAINTS Scholars Social Chair, Gabriella Rivera Pira, is working with her fellow cohorts on ideas for future bonding events. “One of the social events we came up with was a karaoke night, the other one was a New York City trip.” The SAINTS Scholars are hoping to take to part in the Women and Girls in Science International Conference at the United Nations in February 2022.

Currently, there are 16 SAINTS Scholars, eight cohorts from each year, and Dr. Charity Dacey, Associate Dean of the School of Education, is excited about the bonding that is taking place between them. “That’s one of the goals, to build and have a supportive community that is almost like family, and to foster and cultivate that community of support.” Felician’s new cohorts are all women from underrepresented groups, and Dr. Dacey points out that, “research suggests retention is the issue, so we are trying to tackle that retention issue.” According to Dr. Dacey, the idea is to, “have STEM students complete their degree and stay in STEM fields after graduation. These majors have a very high turnover because the work is demanding, and they are usually populated by males and not underrepresented groups.”

Sophomore Aneisha Hunt is excited to be starting her second year with the SAINTS Scholars. “I feel like last year we didn’t have the full experience because of COVID, but today we learned we will have different guest speakers, and more opportunities to do internships and I am really looking forward to the new year.”

Dr. Mazdak Zamani, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Cyber Security, and one of the Co-Principal Investigators of the program also stated, “It would have been challenging the first year anyway, but having the pandemic added to the situation, making it more difficult to meet with students to find out their needs and expectations, but we caught up, thanks to the technology.”

The students look forward to planning and executing an original, hands-on research project in their senior year with access to the close-knit community of SAINTS Scholars. They will do that while gaining practical experience in laboratory techniques and developing an appreciation of Catholic/Franciscan values as they relate to science practitioners.

To learn more about the SAINTS Scholars Program, click here.