ProSource360 is pleased to announce the launch of the Freshman Scholar Transition to Academic Research and Technology (FreshSTART) program.
The program is being conducted in partnership with the U.S. Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) HBCU/MI Program. The program is open to graduating high school seniors who intend to major in STEM fields. The pilot phase of the program will begin with 10 scholars attending Florida A&M University (FAMU) during the official orientation on June 19, 2021. This year’s program will be held virtually, with the intention of moving to on-site instruction when the campus reopens fully in 2022.
The intent of the program is to give incoming college students academic boost, tools and support they need to be successful in a rigorous and competitive environment. In addition to pre-enrollment instruction, the student participants will also receive a $2000 stipend, laptops, and payment to cover all books for their first year of study. Participating professors and program administrators will continue to monitor their progress and provide support over the course of the academic year.
“This will be a great transition into collegiate life,” says Ashley Mitchell, Program Manager for ProSource360. “The professors and coordinators are deeply vested in the success of this program. We want to make sure these kids make it.”
In addition to the academic head start they’re getting, scholars are encouraged to develop a personal relationship with the professors and take advantage of office hours. Mitchell, a proud three-time FAMU graduate (undergraduate, master’s, and law school), is excited about being able to give back to her university community. “I certainly wish I had an opportunity to take advantage of this when I was young,” she says. “It’s a true manifestation of the FAMU motto: ‘Excellence with Caring’.”
The goals for the future of the FreshSTART program are ambitious. The intent is to deepen the impact of the program over the years by expanding to other HBCUs and expanding the number of student and faculty participants.
Mitchell credits the successful launch of the program to a strong partnership with our ONR-HBCU/MI Program customer, led by Program Director Capt. Anthony Smith, Sr. and acting Deputy Program Director Maurice Civers-Davis; along with Dr. Dedra O’Neal, Principal Investigator and Director of the University Scholarship Program at Florida A&M University’s Center for Access and Student Success (CASS).
