The MIT BoSTEM Scholars Academy is a full-time, free-of-charge science, technology, engineering and mathematics summer program that provides high school students with a world-class STEM experience in the heart of MIT’s campus. CSF was honored to provide funding and support that helped enable this year's camp.
“Support from the MIT CSF helped us hire knowledgeable, passionate teachers, acquire supplies for our Scholars’ final projects, and even purchase budget laptops for the few Scholars who lacked computer access to their homework assignments.”
From Chicago, with love
The BoSTEM Scholars Academy was founded by Javier Weddington and Joshua Woodard— two MIT students from Chicago’s South Side looking to help form the next generation of STEM leaders. In pursuing their mission, they leverage two key insights: a deep knowledge of the urban educational experience, and their first-hand appreciation for the power of self-efficacy.
Teaching the power of persistence
Now more than a dozen MIT community members strong, the Academy is a talented team of passionate people—all of whom have overcome numerous social, financial, and academic obstacles, and aspire to help the next generation do the same.
During their five weeks with the Scholars each summer, they aim to instill an internal paradigm of success—providing each student with academic enrichment, pre-college resources, and a supportive community.
The work continues
With the help of CSF, the BoSTEM Scholars Academy continues to grow and thrive—even through the pandemic! Sending lab kits, mini-robots, and healthy snacks to scholars’ homes, the Academy’s resourceful and dedicated staff continue to exemplify what it means to overcome obstacles and adversity in pursuit of a worthwhile mission.
