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News Release

Chemeketa Community College Awarded Prestigious NSF Grant To Empower Future STEM Leaders - 01/14/26

$2 million federal investment expands scholarships, mentoring, and transfer pathways for community college STEM students

 

Salem, Ore., January 13, 2026— Chemeketa Community College announced today that it has been awarded a significant grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support its Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) project, Supportive Community College STEM Students’ Development, Persistence, Transfer, and Success.

This six-year, $1,999,946 grant is designed to substantially increase the number of low-income students who earn STEM degrees at Chemeketa and successfully transfer to four-year institutions to complete bachelor’s degrees in high-demand STEM fields.

The project addresses the unique academic, financial, and structural challenges often faced by community college students pursuing STEM careers. Through a combination of direct financial assistance and intentional academic and mentoring support, the initiative will strengthen Chemeketa’s role as a key pipeline for the region’s future STEM workforce.

Direct Benefits for Students and Academic Success

The project will award 18–20 new scholarships each year, supporting an estimated 98 unique low-income students over the life of the grant. Scholarships will be available to students planning to transfer in critical STEM disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Data Science, Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science.

Scholarship funding will be paired with a comprehensive support structure focused on persistence, transfer, and completion, including:

  • Financial and academic support: Scholarships that reduce financial barriers and allow students to focus on coursework.
     

  • Targeted academic courses: A STEM-specific First-Year Experience course and transfer-focused classes aligned with Oregon’s transfer pathways.
     

  • Holistic mentoring: Cohort-based learning, peer mentoring, and sustained faculty mentorship.
     

  • Career and transfer advising: Specialized counseling, STEM industry guest speakers, and direct connections to university transfer partners.
     

“There is a wealth of potential within the students in our communities. This opportunity will provide access and support for students to pursue their passions in STEM fields while spending their time at Chemeketa as part of a supportive community of like-minded peers and mentors,” said Keith Schloeman and Shannon Othus Gault, co-leads of Chemeketa’s NSF S-STEM project.

“Students will receive not only the financial support needed to participate in higher education, but also wraparound academic support and opportunities that foster their development as STEM students and emerging STEM professionals. We are excited to support students through this program and look forward to seeing their accomplishments.”

“This NSF grant is an investment in the future workforce of our region,” said Jessica Howard, Ph.D., President and CEO of Chemeketa Community College. “By removing barriers and providing comprehensive, wraparound support, we are ensuring that talented low-income students have a clear and achievable path to high-demand, high-wage STEM careers. This project is not only about student success, it’s about building a stronger, more skilled community.”

The NSF award reinforces Chemeketa Community College’s commitment to equity, access, and workforce preparation, while advancing opportunities for students to thrive in the rapidly evolving STEM economy.

 

 

 

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For more than 55 years, Chemeketa Community College has committed itself to transforming lives and our community through exceptional learning experiences in the Mid-Willamette Valley. As the second largest multi-campus district in Oregon, Chemeketa serves 17,500 students annually at its Salem and Yamhill Valley campuses, as well as Brooks, Eola, Winema, Dallas, Woodburn and Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI).

Chemeketa Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution.

 

Chemeketa Community College Awarded Prestigious NSF Grant To Empower Future STEM Leaders - 01/14/26

$2 million federal investment expands scholarships, mentoring, and transfer pathways for community college STEM students

 

Salem, Ore., January 13, 2026— Chemeketa Community College announced today that it has been awarded a significant grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support its Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) project, Supportive Community College STEM Students’ Development, Persistence, Transfer, and Success.

This six-year, $1,999,946 grant is designed to substantially increase the number of low-income students who earn STEM degrees at Chemeketa and successfully transfer to four-year institutions to complete bachelor’s degrees in high-demand STEM fields.

The project addresses the unique academic, financial, and structural challenges often faced by community college students pursuing STEM careers. Through a combination of direct financial assistance and intentional academic and mentoring support, the initiative will strengthen Chemeketa’s role as a key pipeline for the region’s future STEM workforce.

Direct Benefits for Students and Academic Success

The project will award 18–20 new scholarships each year, supporting an estimated 98 unique low-income students over the life of the grant. Scholarships will be available to students planning to transfer in critical STEM disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Data Science, Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science.

Scholarship funding will be paired with a comprehensive support structure focused on persistence, transfer, and completion, including:

  • Financial and academic support: Scholarships that reduce financial barriers and allow students to focus on coursework.
     

  • Targeted academic courses: A STEM-specific First-Year Experience course and transfer-focused classes aligned with Oregon’s transfer pathways.
     

  • Holistic mentoring: Cohort-based learning, peer mentoring, and sustained faculty mentorship.
     

  • Career and transfer advising: Specialized counseling, STEM industry guest speakers, and direct connections to university transfer partners.
     

“There is a wealth of potential within the students in our communities. This opportunity will provide access and support for students to pursue their passions in STEM fields while spending their time at Chemeketa as part of a supportive community of like-minded peers and mentors,” said Keith Schloeman and Shannon Othus Gault, co-leads of Chemeketa’s NSF S-STEM project.

“Students will receive not only the financial support needed to participate in higher education, but also wraparound academic support and opportunities that foster their development as STEM students and emerging STEM professionals. We are excited to support students through this program and look forward to seeing their accomplishments.”

“This NSF grant is an investment in the future workforce of our region,” said Jessica Howard, Ph.D., President and CEO of Chemeketa Community College. “By removing barriers and providing comprehensive, wraparound support, we are ensuring that talented low-income students have a clear and achievable path to high-demand, high-wage STEM careers. This project is not only about student success, it’s about building a stronger, more skilled community.”

The NSF award reinforces Chemeketa Community College’s commitment to equity, access, and workforce preparation, while advancing opportunities for students to thrive in the rapidly evolving STEM economy.

 

 

 

####

 

For more than 55 years, Chemeketa Community College has committed itself to transforming lives and our community through exceptional learning experiences in the Mid-Willamette Valley. As the second largest multi-campus district in Oregon, Chemeketa serves 17,500 students annually at its Salem and Yamhill Valley campuses, as well as Brooks, Eola, Winema, Dallas, Woodburn and Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI).

Chemeketa Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution.