Grant helps NAU fill demand for scientists

Northern Arizona University-Yuma, now grooming homegrown scientists, will fill a breach formerly fed by out-of-state recruiting thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Seventeen students from NAU-Yuma and 16 from Arizona Western College were awarded scholarships from the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program to begin study this fall, said Patricia Garcia, STEM coordinator.

The grant totals $600,000 and each scholarship differs, depending on a student's circumstances, but all of them must be from low-income families to qualify, Garcia said. She mentors students to ensure they get the tutoring they need, have the proper courses they require to graduate, and organizes field trips.

"One of the problems of Yuma is a lot of students don't have the finances or support to pursue a science career. So STEM offers an incentive to produce biologists and environmental scientists who might not have materialized without grant help."

Garcia noted this is the first year NAU has shared the James Carruthers Research and Education Building that opened last spring. The 12,225-square-foot facility was named for the former AWC president to honor his strong support of science research.

The research laboratory has some of the latest technology, she said. One of the cutting-edge apparatus is a polymerase chain reaction cabinet used to prevent contamination of lab specimens and for copying DNA samples.

The building also has an herbarium, a collection of preserved plants arranged by species and catalogued for study.

Abraham Cardenas, 21, a biology junior, was awarded a STEM scholarship for $7,250 this year. Cardenas said it was critical to enable him to pursue a college degree.

"STEM helps a lot economically because my family does not have a lot of money. It's a two-year program and one of the conditions of the scholarship is to keep at least a 3.0 GPA (grade-point average). So even if I was working a part-time job, it would be hard to keep up my grades."

Another critical factor is STEM students were placed in a cohort so they can progress as a group taking the same classes. And by taking classes together, they can form study groups. That makes learning much easier for difficult subjects like organic chemistry, Cardenas said.

Although Cardenas likes his chemistry, genetics and ecological monitoring classes, he said he has a much bigger picture in mind.

"For me, this is just a stepping-stone to help me build my resume and practical experience to get into medical school. I'm interested in immunology and would like to do research on vaccines."

Cardenas praised Tim Whittier, NAU biology professor, for not only passing on tips for internships and scholarships but for a referral to participate in a research project for a national science conference this summer.

"I'm kind of excited but nervous because I never done that kind of thing. But the whole point of this is to get us involved with research."

Jessica Keaton, 23, a biology junior, said she would like to attend medical school at the University of Arizona to become a surgeon. Keaton added that getting her STEM scholarship made her feel really special. And because they work such long hours in study groups, the diligence of individual students inspires one another to maximize their potential.

"It's a dynamic group of people. And studying together so often, you feel more comfortable approaching someone for help because people can see things you don't. STEM works as good bond. It's like an academic family."

William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.