Bay County foundations launch scholarship program for aspiring STEM students

PANAMA CITY ― The Gulf Coast State College Foundation has partnered with STEM Origins to launch a "Rising Star" scholarship program for Aspiring STEM Students.

According to a news release, the Rising Star scholarship is aimed at inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators in Bay County.

The scholarship was originally designed to support only three students. Early fundraising allowed the STEM Origins Foundation to expand the inaugural year of the Rising Stars program to benefit 10 students from 10 different elementary schools across the district.

“This partnership isn’t just about dollars — it’s about building dreams and lighting a long-term path for students who show curiosity and aptitude in STEM,” Ashlin Glatthar, executive director of the GCSC Foundation, said in the release. “By giving students something to aim for early on, we’re changing what’s possible in their futures."

Students are selected based on their merit, including demonstrated curiosity, aptitude and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and math. Students are also selected based upon their collaborations and work ethic.

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The GCSC Foundation has raised more than $5,000 with the Rising Star program supporting 10 students in its first year. The STEM Origins Foundation and the GCSC Foundation aim to support 20 students annually, representing one from each elementary school in the Bay District.

“This is an investment in our children and in our country’s future STEM talent pipeline,” Mark Bradshaw, president of the STEM Origins Foundation, said in the release. “If we want to lead in innovation, we have to start here by making STEM education tangible and exciting from an early age.”

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Foundations team up to offer scholarships for Bay County STEM students