Squared Scholars
Direct Investments in Your Success
At San Diego Squared, we invest directly in the success of underrepresented high school and college students and their educators. We are proud to partner with innovative companies, foundations, and community leaders who are taking action and sending a clear message: You belong in STEM. Our scholarships come as either a direct financial support or will cover the fee to STEM-centered programs offered throughout San Diego County by one of our partners. Explore these opportunities and apply today. We are here to support you!
SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND
STEM EDUCATORS
(Updated monthly)
The Illumina Corporate Foundation SD2 STEM Award provides financial support for underrepresented high school students in San Diego County that have an interest in pursuing a degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related field. Each award is $2,500 and there are 4 available for the 2024-2025 academic school year.
Eligibility:
- Any student enrolled at a public, private, or charter high school in San Diego County as verified by the National Center of Education Statistics ( https://nces.ed.gov/datatools/) will be considered
- Demonstrate an interest in the advancement of historically underrepresented populations in the sciences and related fields
- Students from underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply
- Demonstrate commitment to character, culture, and community
Awards Available: Up to 4 students will be selected
Application Deadline:
May 3, 2024 at 5:00pm
The Illumina Foundation has awarded more than $3M in philanthropic donations, of which $1M has gone to the CDC Foundation COVID Emergency Response Fund, and $2M to local community-based initiatives in the areas where they operate.
This scholarship may be used for tuition, books, fees, room & board, and educational supplies. Every Squared Scholar will be paired with a STEM professional to serve as a mentor for a year.
The scholarship may be renewable (depending upon available funds) for one additional year of STEM undergraduate coursework provided the student maintains a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, good citizenship, and continues to have financial needs.
Criteria:
• Students from underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply
• Be graduating high school seniors or current community college students
• Plan to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year university in the US in fall
• Have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (with rare exceptions for extenuating circumstances)
• Plan to major in science, technology, engineering or mathematics
• Have a demonstrated financial need
• Preference for schools in CA
Opens: February 17, 2024
Deadline: March 6, 2024
San Diego Squared (SD2) is Empowering Tomorrow’s STEM Leaders Today! SD2 connects underrepresented students to the power of STEM by providing access to education, mentorship, and the resources they need to lead the talent workforce. As part of the Squared Scholars program, we invest directly in students that are pursuing a college degree in a STEM-related field (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math).
This scholarship may be used for tuition, books, fees, room & board, and educational supplies. Every Melody SD2 Scholar will be paired with a STEM professional to server as a mentor for a year.
The scholarship may be renewable (depending upon available funds) for one additional year of STEM undergraduate coursework provided the student maintains a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, good citizenship, and continues to have financial need.
Criteria:
• Be graduating seniors at the Samuel F. B. Morse High School
• Plan to enroll at an accredited four-year university in the US in the the fall
• Have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0 with a demonstrated potential of a 3.5
• Plan to pursue a degree in S.T.E.M related field
• Have a demonstrated financial need
• Preference for schools in CA Required
Opens: February 17, 2024
Deadline: March 6, 2024
The Melody SD2 Scholarship was established by Louise and Marc Stapley. Louise and Marc both graduated from Reading University in England in 1991. They were the first members of their respective families to have the opportunity to attend college after high school and earn a degree. They were able to use that solid educational foundation to build careers for themselves. Consequently, they would like to help enable other students, who might not otherwise have the opportunity, to attend college and earn a degree.
Criteria:
• Be graduating high-school seniors or current community college students
• Plan to attend/transfer to an accredited public or private four-year university in the United States
• Students from underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply
• Have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 (graduating high school seniors) with rare exceptions for extenuating circumstances
• Plan to pursue a degree in S.T.E.M. field
• Have a demonstrated financial need
• Preference for schools in CA
The Hologic SD2 Scholarship seeks to promote diversity in STEM careers by promoting young STEM scholars through financial support and mentorship. Hologic empowers people to live healthier lives everywhere, every day.
The Illumina Corporate Foundation SD2 STEM Educators Award provides financial support for underrepresented educators currently teaching junior high or high school STEM classes in San Diego County. There are two $5,000 awards available scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic school year.
Eligibility:
• Any junior high or high school STEM field-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) teacher employed at a public, private, or charter school (as verified by the National Center of Education Statistics) will be considered
• Demonstrate an interest in the advancement of historically underrepresented populations in the sciences and related fields
• Educators from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM fields are highly encouraged to apply
Application Deadline:
Application Closed
Learn more about how Illumina is working to accelerate access to genomics, empower communities, and minimize environmental footprint in their annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report. Review the details of their CSR program and glimpse into the people, passion, and hard work that make Illumina such a special place.
The Neurocrine Biosciences SD2 STEM Educators Award provides financial support for underrepresented educators currently teaching junior high or high school STEM classes in San Diego County. There are two available scholarships for the 2021-2022 academic school year.
Eligibility:
• Any junior high or high school STEM field related (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) teacher employed at a public, private, or charter school (as verified by the National Center of Education Statistics) will be considered
• Demonstrate an interest in the advancement of historically underrepresented populations in the sciences and related fields
• Educators from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM fields are highly encouraged to apply
Application Deadline:
Aug 27, 2021
Neurocrine Biosciences is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and delivering life-changing treatments for people with serious, challenging and under-addressed neurological, endocrine and psychiatric disorders.
Neurocrine Biosciences, SD2 and the Boz Institute have partnered to pilot an all-expense paid 6-week virtual and collaborative life science research program. Toxicants in our water supply, food, and common household products bioaccumulate in the food chain, plants, animals, and people. In this course, students will learn to maintain and differentiate female and male fruit flies, expose them to problematic chemical pollutants, isolate their brains, extract RNA and analyze differential gene expression via RNA sequencing methods. Students will manage and analyze large gene expression sequencing data and present their findings in a formal science seminar at the end of the course.
Eligibility:
Dates: July 6th, 2021 – Aug 12th, 2021 (6 weeks)
Awards Available: up to 5 students will be selected
Grade Level: Students must currently be in 10th – 12th grade
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays (1:00pm – 3:00pm PST), 4 hours of work required outside of online lectures
Application Deadline:
July 1, 2021
The Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute gives students research experience from developing a hypothesis, conducting field work, designing and running experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating their results.
Neurocrine Biosciences, SD2, and the Boz Institute have partnered to pilot an all-expense paid 6-week virtual and collaborative life science research program. This course utilizes marine invertebrates to assess ecological health of a local estuary. Students will test the water and sediment quality using microbiology, environmental toxicology, and analytical chemistry to better understand the sensitivity and resistance of marine organisms and laboratory fish to environmental stressors. This immersive research course is part of an ongoing effort to develop both real-time and long-term broad testing/monitoring programs resulting in effective mitigation strategies to minimize the human and ecological risk due to pollutant exposures within a delicate local estuary.
Eligibility:
Dates: July 7th, 2021 – Aug 11th, 2021 (6 weeks)
Grade Level: Students must currently be in 10th – 12th grade
Awards Available: up to 5 students will be selected
Schedule: Monday and Wednesday (3:00pm – 5:00pm PST), 4 hours of work required outside of online lectures
Application Deadline:
July 1, 2021
The Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute gives students research experience from developing a hypothesis, conducting field work, designing and running experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating their results. Image: Courtesy of Boz Institute
The Mario José Molina Scholarship focuses on supporting the growth and development of underrepresented collegiate students pursuing a STEM-related degree. This can be a reoccurring scholarship based on merit.
Criteria:
• Be admitted to a STEM major at UC San Diego as an incoming freshman
• Demonstrate an interest in the advancement of historically underrepresented populations in the sciences and related fields
• Students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply
• Must commit to living on campus for the first two years of the program
Mexican chemist, Mario José Molina (1943-2020), received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for his contributions to the understanding of how chlorofluorocarbons (“CFCs”, used in refrigerants and aerosols) released into the atmosphere degrade the ozone layer. His work led to the regulation of CFCs and the protection of the ozone layer, which in turn protects us from hazardous ultraviolet radiation. Image: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Katherine Johnson SD2 Scholarship focuses on supporting the growth and development of underrepresented collegiate students pursuing a STEM-related degree. This can be a reoccurring scholarship based on merit.
Criteria:
• Be admitted to a STEM major at UC San Diego as an incoming freshman
• Demonstrate an interest in the advancement of historically underrepresented populations in the sciences and related fields
• Students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply
• Must commit to living on campus for the first two years of the program
Katherine Johnson (1918-2020), the Black mathematician who provided flight trajectory calculations for NASA for its early orbital missions, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama, and who was portrayed in the 2016 film, Hidden Figures. NASA named a spacecraft after the legendary mathematician who guided early space flight with her calculations! Image: NASA
The Wylie Vale Neurocrine Biosciences SD2 Scholarship focuses on supporting the growth and development of underrepresented collegiate students pursuing a STEM-related degree. This can be a reoccurring scholarship based on merit.
Criteria:
• Be admitted to a STEM major at UC San Diego as an incoming freshman
• Demonstrate an interest in the advancement of historically underrepresented populations in the sciences and related fields
• Students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply
• Must commit to living on campus for the first two years of the program
Wylie Vale (1941-2012) was highly regarded as the global authority on peptide hormones and growth factors that provide communication between the brain and endocrine system. Vale and his collaborators research led to new methods for the diagnosis of pituitary disease and opened new possibilities for the development of drugs aimed at treating anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome and even drug abuse. Image: Courtesy of Neurocrine Biosciences