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New endowed scholarship will help students and economy
The need for college graduates to enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields is constantly increasing. A new endowed scholarship fund honoring the successful presidency of President Jo Young ’69 Switzer will help connect Manchester students to those opportunities.
The Jo Young Switzer Endowed Scholarship Fund supports qualified students who plan to make a career in a STEM field. The Advancement Office is accepting gifts and pledges with a goal of raising $1 million, which would generate about $45,000 annually for Manchester students.
STEM occupations are expected to grow 1.7 times faster than non-STEM occupations from 2008-2018 according to the White House Office of Science and Technology and Policy. In fact, job postings in STEM occupations outnumber unemployed people 1.9 to 1, reports Change the Equation, a coalition of corporate CEOs working to align American education with work force needs. Compare that to non-STEM occupations for which there are 3.6 unemployed people for every one job posting.
In part because only 31 percent of STEM degrees nationally are awarded to women, the Jo Young Switzer Endowed Scholarship Fund will give preference to women as scholarship recipients.
If you would like to help Manchester students prepare for rewarding careers in STEM fields and honor President Switzer, please contact the Advancement Office at 888-257-ALUM for more details or to make a gift.
By Ben Ogden ’12
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