New Data Science Scholarships

New Data Science Scholarships need who earn degrees in STEM fields. The scholarships will be available for new students who are majoring in data science, and preference will be given to students from Hawai'i and the Pacific region who meet academic and financial requirements. CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY RECENTLY RECEIVED A MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE The new project aims to accomplish three NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) TO PROVIDE 20 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NEW things: 1) mitigate the financial and academic FIRST-YEAR AND TRANSFER STUDENTS WHO ARE MAJORING IN DATA SCIENCE. barriers for low-income students from the Pacific; 2) acknowledge and address the cultural and non-academic barriers these Data science is one of the most in-demand organizations. In addition to learning the students face when pursuing an education in and fastest growing careers in the Pacific necessary technical skills like coding and STEM; and 3) develop new ways of teaching region. As industries collect more data, they data visualization, students also learn about and supporting student needs, strengths and need more people who can analyze and decision-making, data ethics and how to cultural expectations. interpret those data. This new program is part communicate complex datasets in a clear and “There is a national need for well-educated of a larger initiative to build a cohort of data concise way, ensuring they are well-versed in STEM professionals from diverse backgrounds science professionals in the Pacific to help all aspects of the career. and experiences,” says Dr. Lynn Babington, support decision-making across Hawai'i’s “This project will empower students president of Chaminade University. “The support economic sectors. from across the region to find data-driven from NSF will help strengthen the career

“This program is all about access to high- solutions to challenges in Hawai'i and the pathway for low-income students and will paying, in-demand jobs,” says Dr. Alexander Pacific region,” says Dr. Helen Turner, vice ensure these future STEM workers receive a Stokes, assistant professor at Chaminade president for Strategy and Innovation at high-quality, values-driven education.” University. “Every business sector in Hawai'i, Chaminade University. “The Pacific faces Applications will be reviewed by a panel from healthcare to finance to energy and unique challenges, and we need local students of Chaminade faculty members, and students nonprofits, needs professionals in data who can use local data to help us understand who are selected to participate in the program analytics to provide decision support.” and address those challenges.” will receive a $10,000-per-year scholarship.

Data science students at Chaminade The grant is part of NSF’s Scholarships Program participants will also have access to participate in hands-on, project-based courses in STEM (S-STEM) program, which seeks academic navigators, cultural programming, life and internships that use real data provided to increase the number of academically coaching, professional tutoring, paid internships, by local businesses, agencies and community talented students with demonstrated financial retreats and career preparation.