Breaking Barriers: Providing Scholarships to Low-Income Students for STEM Education through Summer Science Splash Camp

The Summer Science Splash Camp is an overnight residential camp that aims to provide students with hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. However, the high cost of attendance can make it difficult for low-income families to send their children to the camp. To address this issue, a grant received will be used to provide scholarships to campers from low-income families attending the Summer Science Splash Camp.

The amount of the scholarship will be determined based on financial need, with some campers receiving partial scholarships and others receiving full scholarships. Currently, 32 families are benefiting from scholarship assistance, accounting for about one-third of all campers. The average partial scholarship amount for 2024 is $480, which covers more than half of the total cost of the camp, which is $799.

Kristen Rynerson ’10, conference and pre-college coordinator at Eckerd College expressed her excitement about the opportunity to offer scholarships to campers. She stated, “We recognize that the cost of this overnight residential camp is high, but being able to cut the cost of attendance for those in need brings this crucial STEM summer programming to marginalized students who would likely otherwise not have the opportunity to attend anything like it.”

Community Foundation Tampa Bay played a crucial role in making this scholarship program possible by serving as philanthropic partners and advisors. Their aim was to connect people and resources and create meaningful and lasting impact in their community through initiatives like this one.