The Ohio Department of Higher Education has awarded Lake Erie College in Painesville a Choose Ohio First grant totaling $425,000 to enhance the institution’s STEM programs.
This is the college’s fifth Choose Ohio First grant, aimed at expanding opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine, referred to as STEMM, according to a news release.
The funds will support the college’s Choose Ohio First STEMM Scholars program, which provides scholarships to students pursuing STEMM degrees. Since 2022, the program has financially supported 59 Lake Erie students, helping to remove barriers to higher education and fostering academic success in fields critical to Ohio’s workforce.
The Choose Ohio First program is a cornerstone of the state’s efforts to strengthen Ohio’s position in the global economy by increasing the number of skilled graduates and STEM educators. This initiative provides strategic funding to colleges and universities across the state to offer scholarships to students seeking certificates, associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees in eligible STEM fields, the release stated.
Dr. Johnathan Tedesco, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and director of the STEMM Scholars program at Lake Erie, expressed gratitude for the continued state investment:
“This funding allows us to maintain our momentum, further assisting students in STEM by reducing their financial burdens and providing the resources they need to thrive both academically and professionally,” he stated in the release.