In partnership with The American Chemistry Council (ACC), Chemours, and HBCU Week Foundation, the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) was established in November 2020 with the goal of helping to combat the lack of diversity in the STEM workforce. FOSSI provides scholarship recipients $10,000 per year for four years, helping to eliminate financial barriers for historically underrepresented groups.
The FOSSI initiative welcomed 151 scholars in its inaugural year. In 2022, the program celebrates its new class of 144 FOSSI scholars, who are from 25 states and will be attending 34 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) this fall.
See the video below for an inside look into how FOSSI is changing the lives of these amazing scholars.
Meet more of FOSSI’s 2022 class
Asha Greenidge: 2022 FOSSI Scholar Attending Tuskegee University
Asha graduated from Mayfair High School in Cerritos, CA. One of her greatest achievements so far was founding her very own 501(c)(3) nonprofit, “Project Caring Cards.” With the support of her volleyball teammates, her friends, and entire high school community, she was able to deliver just short of 7,000 handmade, one-of-a-kind “caring cards” to local hospital patients and frontline workers. Her educational goals include earning her PharmD degree, and her career goal is to be an oncology pharmacist serving underserved Black and Brown communities.
Jordan Hunt: 2022 FOSSI Scholar Attending Tuskegee University
Jordan graduated from Hawken Upper School in Euclid, OH. He began learning martial arts at the age of five, and is currently a martial arts instructor. Throughout middle school, he attended the REACH Program, an enrichment program for young African-American men, where he advanced his education not only in curricular studies, but also in Black history and culture. As he pursues a degree in computer science, he seeks to move into the field of virtual reality in order to create a better future for the communities that stood behind him.
Ariel Wilcox: 2022 FOSSI Scholar Attending North Carolina A&T State University
Ariel graduated from Charles J. Colgan High School in Woodbridge, VA. She was first motivated to do STEM because of her mother, who currently works as an engineer. Later on, she discovered that there weren't many women in the STEM field and decided she wanted to help close that gap. As she got older, her motivation became more intrinsic. She realized she had a knack for spacial awareness, and a curiosity toward the mechanical aspect of things. In the future, she hopes to be a part of a team that is focused on designing infrastructure to help the deteriorating environment.
Isaiah Wimbush: 2022 FOSSI Scholar Attending Morehouse College
Isaiah graduated from Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He became interested in the STEM field late in his educational year after he took some classes that captivated his attention. He looks forward to working for major technology companies and ultimately using the skills he gains to form a company of his own. He desires to help companies produce the most efficient and economically beneficial products on the market.
We invite companies not currently supporting FOSSI to build their pipeline of outstanding and diverse talent by supporting a FOSSI scholar. Learn more.