Trailblazer Scholars Program

该奖学金项目是一种新的模式，旨在为有家属的非传统学生提供基于需求的STEM学科援助，教育最有可能留在阿巴拉契亚的个人。开拓者学者计划支持15名有学术天赋、经济困难的非传统学生，他们有家属，在马歇尔社区和技术学院（MCTC）和马歇尔大学（MU）获得STEM学科的两年制和四年制学位。开拓者学者可以选择直接进入MU或从MCTC开始，并在获得STEM副学士学位后转学。2+2专业包括生物科学（MCTC）和生物技术（MU）；信息技术（MCTC）和计算机与信息技术（MU）；地理空间科学（MCTC）和地理学（MU）。对其他理学院和信息技术与工程学院专业感兴趣的学生也可以申请。开拓者学者项目将有家属的非传统学生视为服务不足的群体，也是培养多样化、高素质STEM劳动力的未开发资源。该项目的申请者是通过现有的外联基础设施招募的，该基础设施包括MCTC/MU招聘项目、高中教师和社区组织。创新的学生支持计划解决了有家属的非传统学生未满足的学术和社会需求。有针对性的夏季桥梁项目，通过注册队列课程加强的学习社区，灵活的家庭友好型日托解决方案，以及针对非传统学生的在线社交网络社区，鼓励学生保留和完成学位。此外，职业安置利用了地区STEM企业中现有的强大校友联系。开拓者学者计划的目标是：扩大亨廷顿-阿什兰俄亥俄州-华盛顿州-肯塔基州大都会统计区的技术和科学劳动力；-改善有受养人的非传统学生的教育机会和学生服务；-在MU和MCTC STEM项目之间建立更强大，互利的关系。

This scholarship program is a new model for targeting need-based assistance in STEM disciplines to non-traditional students with dependents, educating individuals most likely to remain in Appalachia. The Trailblazer Scholars Program supports a cohort of 15 academically-talented, financially challenged nontraditional students with dependents to obtain two- and four-year degrees in STEM disciplines at Marshall Community and Technical College (MCTC) and Marshall University (MU). Trailblazer Scholars have the ability to choose between entering MU directly or beginning at MCTC and transferring once they have earned an associate STEM degree. The 2+2 academic programs included are Bioscience (MCTC) and Biotechnology (MU); Information Technology (MCTC) and Computers and Information Technology (MU); and Geospatial Science (MCTC) and Geography (MU). Students interested in other College of Science and College of Information Technology and Engineering majors are also supported. The Trailblazer Scholars Program identifies nontraditional students with dependents as both an underserved population and an untapped resource for development of a diverse and well qualified STEM workforce. Applicants for the program are recruited through an existing outreach infrastructure that involves MCTC/MU recruiting programs, high school teachers, and community organizations. Innovative student support programs address unmet academic and social needs of the nontraditional student with dependents. Targeted summer bridge programs, learning communities reinforced by enrollment in cohort courses, flexible, family-friendly daycare solutions, and online social networking communities for nontraditional students encourage student retention and degree completion. In addition, career placement exploits existing strong alumni connections within regional STEM businesses.Goals of the Trailblazer Scholars Program are to: - expand the technical and science-based workforce in the Huntington-Ashland OH-WV-KY Metropolitan Statistical Area; - improve educational opportunities and student services for nontraditional students with dependents; and - build a stronger, mutually-beneficial relationship between MU and MCTC STEM programs.