ASPIRE program receives funding from NSF grant
December 12, 2016
A National Science Foundation (NSF) grant will help support the education and development of 36 Bagley College of Engineering students over the next five years.
Funded by NSF’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math program, the grant provides both scholarships and mentoring for selected aerospace and industrial engineering majors.
The Mississippi State University program ASPIRE (Aerospace & Industrial Engineering Scholarship Program) includes a variety of elements to enhance student success. ASPIRE fellows will receive a $2,500 scholarship for up to eight semesters and spend time networking with industry professionals and peers while receiving academic support.
Directed by Lesley Strawderman, an associate professor and the undergraduate coordinator for the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, the ASPIRE program prepares students for the workplace and provide educational opportunities, while strengthening retention and recruiting. One of the key components of ASPIRE is a comprehensive mentoring program, where incoming freshman fellows are paired with an upperclassman who offers advice and guidance throughout their college career. The mentors also provide weekly updates on student progress to program faculty, allowing early intervention if a student is struggling.
The ASPIRE program has awarded scholarships to 12 students for the 2016-2017 academic year. The fellows come from Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Georgia, with an average ACT score of 29 and an average high school GPA of 3.95. ASPIRE activities for the year include career counseling, tours of local industries and a variety of social events.
By creating a pipeline for academic success in aerospace and industrial engineering, the program helps to address the growing need for science, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals in the United States and, specifically, Mississippi, where a trained workforce can help recruit job-creating industry to the area.
Additional information about the ASPIRE program at Mississippi State University can be found at www.ise.msstate.edu/aspire.
The Bagley College of Engineering is online at bagley.msstate.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching for @msuengineering.