NSF Awards SPC $1.5 Million for Underrepresented STEM Students

The National Science Foundation (NSF) selected St. Philip’s College (SPC) as the recipient of a $1.5 million grant to support their efforts in meeting the mission of the Ciencia, Ingeniería, y Matemáticas Aliados - Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (CIMA-LSAMP) Program. CIMA-LSAMP strives to transform science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education through innovative recruitment, retention strategies and experiences that support groups historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines including African-Americans, Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, Native Hawaiians and Native Pacific Islanders. This is accomplished through a large number of initiatives, including peer mentorship, faculty mentorship, tutoring, supplemental instruction and undergraduate research.

CIMA was formed in the fall of 2013 when St. Philip’s College was first awarded the LSAMP Bridges to Baccalaureate Program (B2B) grant. It is comprised of the five Alamo Colleges: San Antonio College, Palo Alto College, Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, and St. Philip's College.

Each year, SPC hosts the CIMA-LSAMP Research Symposium where research scholars across the five colleges congregate to present their research and findings. This year, the event was held virtually via Zoom and featured 56 student presenters. Research topics included: Creating Efficient and Affordable Face Masks to Combat COVID-19; A Search for Nitrogen-fixing Microorganisms in Tillandsia recurvata from South Texas; Assessing Learning and Executive Function in Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) for Human Application; and Plant Metabolite Extraction Protocol and Investigation of Forest Disturbance effects on Costa Rican Howler Monkeys. The virtual event welcomed over 160 spectators.  

For more information on the CIMA-LSAMP program, click here. 

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