The Fletcher Jones Foundation will provide Whittier College with $410,000 in support of advancing student success in the STEM disciplines. The grant will support 30 undergraduate summer research fellowships in these disciplines: 10 students per year for 3 years. It will also support bringing in a STEM academic advisor/coordinator for the duration of the grant. “We are grateful to The Fletcher Jones Foundation for their generous support of our students interested in the STEM fields,” said Whittier College President Linda Oubré. “The funding comes at a time when employers are seeking diverse voices and experiences to meet the growing need for innovative STEM professionals. This grant will support Whittier College’s unique and talented students, ensuring they are well positioned and energized to meet this need.” In fact, the College is experiencing an unprecedented growth in interest in the sciences among its undergraduates. This new grant will help support this rising group of young scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and innovators. Other undergraduate research fellowships, like those created by this grant, have provided invaluable opportunities for Whittier’s students. Most of the students who have received STEM research fellowships were from underrepresented groups, and a majority were women. These experiences enhance their resumes and make them more attractive to employers seeking the kinds of young professionals that Whittier is adept at graduating. Applications to the new Fletcher Jones Foundation Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships Program will begin this spring. The Fletcher Jones Foundation, based in Pasadena, Calif., was endowed from the estate of Fletcher R. Jones, co-founder of Computer Sciences Corporation. The primary mission of the Foundation is the support of private, independent nonprofit colleges and universities in California. Founded in 1887, Whittier College is an independent four-year liberal arts college that encourages students to question the world around them and figure out their place in it. Located in the heart of Southern California between bustling Los Angeles and beautiful Orange County, Whittier is distinguished by its small size, energetic faculty, and nationally recognized curriculum. With an emphasis on diversity, community, and curricular innovation, the College’s primary mission is to endow students with the education, skills, and values appropriate for global leadership and service.
