For the second consecutive year, Hexion is supporting the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI), the chemical industry’s collaborative equity, diversity, and inclusion initiative aimed at creating pathways for more underrepresented groups to enter and succeed in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers in the chemical industry.
FOSSI provides opportunities for chemical manufacturers, supply chain partners and affiliated industry stakeholders to fund scholarships, provide internship opportunities and facilitate mentoring and leadership training for students majoring in STEM at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
With an investment of nearly $100,000 annually, Hexion will sponsor two scholars over the next four years, joining a growing list of organizations supporting the initiative. The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative is a partnership between the American Chemistry Council, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Chemours and the HBCU Week Foundation.
In its inaugural year and to support the “Class of 2021,” the program initially received funding from 43 chemical manufacturers and related industry stakeholders, while supporting 151 scholars, at an investment of $7.2 million in 2021. FOSSI scholarship recipients represented 28 states, with students planning to attend 26 HBCUs. In its inaugural year, more than 1,700 high school students across the nation applied for FOSSI scholarships, demonstrating both the urgent need for this program and the enormous pool of untapped talent.
