Washington Stem Center

WASHINGTON STEM IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT TO ADVANCE EXCELLENCE, EQUITY, AND INNOVATION IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) EDUCATION THROUGH LINKED STRATEGIES WHICH ENCOMPASS POLICY AND ADVOCACY, REGIONAL STEM NETWORKS AND DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES.

THE WASHINGTON STATE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP (WSOS) IS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN 2011 TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH-DEMAND DEGREE PROGRAMS FOR LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME STUDENTS. RECIPIENTS OF THE WSOS BACCALAUREATE SCHOLARSHIP RECEIVE UP TO $22,500 OVER FIVE YEARS. THESE FUNDS SUPPORT THE PURSUIT OF A BACHELOR'S IN SPECIFIC, ELIGIBLE, HIGH-DEMAND STEM AND HEALTH CARE FIELDS AT OVER 60 ELIGIBLE WA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. IN ADDITION TO SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO SCHOLARS, TARGETED IN TWO AREAS: 1) PERSISTENCE SERVICES FOCUS ON ENSURING SUCCESSFUL DEGREE COMPLETION THROUGH ACADEMIC READINESS AND SOCIAL STABILITY. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH A PEER MENTORING MODEL, THE SCHOLAR LEAD PROGRAM. IN THIS MODEL, SELECT THIRD- AND FOURTH-YEAR SCHOLARS ARE GIVEN AN $1,800 STIPEND TO PROVIDE ON-CAMPUS MENTORSHIP TO 10-15 SCHOLARS EARLIER IN THEIR COLLEGE CAREER. 2) PLACEMENT SERVICES FOCUS ON LAUNCHING STUDENTS FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER BY BUILDING SOFT SKILLS AND CAREER READINESS. THESE SUPPORTS ARE PROVIDED THROUGH AN INDUSTRY MENTORING MODEL, THE SKILLS THAT SHINE PROGRAM. THIRD-YEAR SCHOLARS ARE MATCHED WITH A PROFESSIONAL IN THEIR FIELD OF STUDY. OVER THE COURSE OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR, THE MENTOR-MENTEE PAIR MOVES THROUGH AN ONLINE, GUIDED CURRICULUM BUILT TO FOCUS ON CAREER SKILLS. WASHINGTON STEM IS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR FOR WSOS.

FOUNDED IN PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY, PARTNERSHIP, AND SUSTAINABILITY, WASHINGTON STEM AMPLIFIES SOLUTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT BRING THE BEST STEM EDUCATION TO ALL WASHINGTON STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN STEM FIELDS LIKE STUDENTS OF COLOR, GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN, STUDENTS LIVING IN POVERTY, AND STUDENTS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON TWO PRIMARY INITIATIVES: EARLY STEM AND CAREER PATHWAYS. AT WASHINGTON STEM WE EXECUTE OUR WORK THROUGH 6 KEY ACTIVITES; 1. IDENTIFY LOCAL SOLUTIONS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT WIDE-SPREAD ADOPTION2. CONVENE PARTNERS TO SOLVE IMPORTANT PROBLEMS3. USE MEASUREMENT AND DATA TO IDENTIFY AND OVERCOME BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY4. TELL STORIES ABOUT PARTNER'S SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES5. ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE BY INFORMING AND EDUCATING LEADERS6. PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO PARTNERSOUR VISION AND GOAL IS BY 2030, WASHINGTON STUDENTS WILL BE CAREER - AND FUTURE - READY. WE WILL DO THIS BY ENSURING 70% OF WASHINGTON YOUTH WILL EARN CREDENTIALS BY AGE 26 AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS OF COLOR, STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME AND RURAL FAMILIES, AND YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE ON TRACK TO EARN HIGH-DEMAND CREDENTIALS AND THRIVE IN OUR INNOVATION ECONOMY WILL TRIPLE.