Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

2016 Math and Science Scholars Named in Urban Schools

  • 06/13/16

Council of the Great City Schools Awards ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Scholarships

Washington, D.C. (Business Wire) — Four graduating high school seniors have been selected by the Great City Schools (CGCS) to receive the 2016 ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarship. They were chosen from several hundred applicants across the nation for their academic performance, leadership qualities and community involvement.

Now in its seventh year, the scholarship was created by former NASA astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., the first African American to walk in space, and ExxonMobil to encourage and assist promising students of diverse backgrounds who plan to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies after high school.
The awards are given annually to African-American and Hispanic seniors from high schools in the 70 urban school districts represented by CGCS.

“These highly competitive scholarships give talented urban students a boost in their pursuit of postsecondary STEM studies and careers,” said Michael Casserly, executive director, Council of the Great City Schools. “The generous support of Dr. Harris and ExxonMobil helps advance these young men and women as they begin the next stage of their lives.”

Each scholar will receive $5,000 for continued education in a STEM-related field. This year’s award winners are:

  • Michael Benben, Western High School, Broward County (FL) Public Schools
  • Francesca Rafaella Dupuy, Cooper City High School, Broward County (FL) Public Schools
  • Eillen Daniela Martinez, Timber Creek High School, Orange County (FL) Public Schools
  • Dalan Omar Smallwood, Strawberry Crest High School, Hillsborough County (FL) School District.

In the fall, Benben plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology and aspires to major in mechanical engineering. Dupuy will be studying environmental engineering at the University of Florida. Martinez hopes to become a doctor and will attend Johns Hopkins University, while Smallwood, who will study biophysics and also has aspirations to be a physician, will attend the University of North Carolina.

“Reading the achievements and aspirations of these young people is truly inspirational,” said Dr. Harris. “It’s my hope that the scholarships they receive will propel them to a future of fulfilling their dreams.”

Administration of the scholarship program, including the application process, pre-selection and presentation of awards, is provided by the CGCS. Dr. Harris makes the final selection of recipients. For more information, visit www.cgcs.org.

Featured

  • Image courtesy of Kahler Slater

    UW–Madison Announces Completion of Morgridge Hall

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison recently announced that construction is complete on Morgridge Hall, a new academic building, according to a news release. The facility opened September 3 at the start of the fall semester, consolidating the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a single facility for the first time.

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.