By Communications Department - Archdiocese of Miami
Parents and Students to Work out Financial Aid Figures and Scholarship Availability
MIAMI�Fl February 20, 2009- St. Thomas University and the City of Miami, under Commissioner Tomas Regalado's lead, is hosting a College Information Day dedicated to parents and students who need information on financing the kids' way to college and to those going back to school in view of unemployment.
With students from over 50 countries, St. Thomas University has a 39% Hispanic segment within its student population. In response to the shortage of Hispanics and other minorities who have completed baccalaureate degrees in science and math, St. Thomas University established a new program - the Science and Mathematics Fellows - in August 2008. The private university and the City of Miami, rich in diversity, want to inform minorities of academic scholarships and financial aid available amidst the unstable economy. A public awareness campaign is being launched to inform Hispanic parents, high school students and those with an associate degree from Miami-Dade College of the affordability of a degree in science and math with qualifying students receiving academic scholarships and financial aid. Details will be available to the public at a College Information Day and a Chat with the Deans, - Saturday, February 28 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Archdiocese of Miami's Youth Center, 3333 South Miami Avenue, next to the La Salle High School and Ermita de la Caridad grounds.
"The Fellows Program is research-based, something that makes St. Thomas University stand-out from other higher education players who require a four-year degree to engage in undergraduate research in the sciences", says MIT graduate, Dean Edward A. Ajhar. "With prestigious faculty members who engage in spinal cord research, microbiology, plant growth stations and aquatic habitat laboratories, students now have an experience unlike anything else they encountered before in a science class. With first-hand discovery they start thinking like scientists." Freshmen, juniors and community college students who transfer with an associate degree, study in cohorts in biology, chemistry and mathematics. Created to increase the number of minority students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the Science Fellows Program offers students who qualify affordable education, a personal academic advisor and the opportunity to work on publishable research along with faculty. Degrees include BAs in Biology (both biological research and forensic science specializations), Chemistry, Computer Science
and Mathematics.
Prospective college students and those enrolled in Miami-Dade College will be able to chat with Dean Ajhar, Dean Jose Antonio (Tony) Villamil from the School of Business and other deans and faculty members as well as work out financial figures with Admissions and Financial Aid staff Saturday, February 28. There will be refreshments and plenty of information on undergraduate, graduate degrees, online programs and certificates. Degrees range from Biology and Chemistry with forensic research to Pastoral Ministries, Environmental Justice and Hispanic Media, Homeland Security and Anti-Terrorism Certificates as well as a Professional Studies' fast-track online Masters degree. Teachers and school systems' administrators looking for a job or career advancement will also learn about a doctoral degree in Education without the time-consuming thesis requirement.
For additional information please email [email protected] call the Admissions Office
at 305 - 628-6546 or log onto www.stu.edu
Those interested in eligibility requirements for scholarship funds from the Science & Math Fellows Program may call 305 - 474-6853 or email [email protected]
