AuguryNew Wave of STEM Hope: Foundation Names 2025 Scholars Set to Change Their Communities
This article was written by the Augury Times
Fresh talent honored in 2025 scholarship awards
For A Bright Future Foundation announced its 2025 STEM scholarship recipients this week, celebrating a small but diverse group of students chosen for their academic promise and community work. The awards were handed out at a ceremony and virtual event that brought together family members, teachers and local partners. Each winner receives a multi-year scholarship and access to mentoring and internship support designed to help them finish college and move into technical careers that their communities urgently need.
The announcement focused less on a long list of winners and more on the real-world difference the money and mentoring are meant to make: easing the cost of a STEM degree, opening doors to lab and workplace experience, and nudging talented young people toward careers in engineering, computer science, health technology and environmental science.
A short history and how the scholarships work
For A Bright Future Foundation began as a local nonprofit ten years ago with a simple idea: give talented students from underserved neighborhoods a clearer path into science and technology. Over the last decade the group has run workshops, summer camps and college-prep sessions. In 2019 it formalized a scholarship program after hearing too many stories of students forced to drop out because of cost.
The 2025 scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors or recent graduates who plan to study a STEM subject. Awards are renewable for up to four years, based on progress in school, and recipients also get mentoring and priority placement for local internships. The selection balances academic achievement with financial need and community service. A review panel made up of educators, local industry representatives and previous scholars reviews applications and interviews finalists.
Five students and the paths they want to build
Jamal Thompson is from a working-class neighborhood and will study mechanical engineering at his state university. He fixed cars for neighbors in high school and wants to design more efficient cooling systems for electric vehicles. Jamal says the scholarship removes a cloud of debt he feared would force him to work full time instead of studying.
Priya Patel plans to major in biomedical engineering after volunteering at a local clinic. She’s driven by a simple goal: making medical devices that are cheaper and easier to use in small hospitals. Priya also led a science club that ran free tutoring for middle school students.
Ana Gomez is the first in her family to go to college. She will study computer science at a community college before transferring to a four-year program. Ana built a neighborhood app that lets residents share tools and volunteers, a project that won a regional civic-tech prize.
Marcus Lee intends to pursue environmental science with a focus on urban water systems. He grew up near flooding zones and wants better ways to manage storm water and protect low-income neighborhoods from pollution.
Finally, Sanaa Ibrahim will study data analytics, hoping to work with public health agencies to spot disease outbreaks earlier. Sanaa’s high school research on asthma triggers earned her a scholarship at a regional science fair.
Voices on the award: what it means for people and place
Maria Alvarez, founder and executive director of For A Bright Future Foundation, said: “Money helps, but what truly changes a life is the combination of financial support, mentors who believe in you, and real workplace experience. These young people have the grit and the ideas. Now they get a fighting chance to turn them into careers.”
Jamal Thompson, one of the winners, said: “This scholarship means I can focus on learning instead of balancing three jobs. I feel like my community is investing in me, and I want to give back by designing things that help where I grew up.”
Local employer partner and engineer Dr. Lena Park added: “We need engineers who understand the problems their communities face. These scholars bring that perspective—and we’re ready to train them on the job.”
How to apply, donate or support future scholars
The foundation opens its scholarship application each January and accepts submissions from students finishing high school or entering college. Applicants typically need to provide transcripts, a short personal statement, and a letter describing community work or leadership. Local businesses can support the program by offering internships, workshops or matching donations during the annual giving campaign.
To get involved, people can attend the foundation’s public events, make a financial contribution, or offer in-kind support such as mentoring time. The foundation also runs regular info sessions for students and parents during the fall and winter admission seasons.
Photo: Tara Winstead / Pexels
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