Career Pathways Scholarship Program

About the Scholarship

With a grant of nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Bellarmine University is creating an academic and need-based award to recruit high-achieving students from traditionally under-represented backgrounds into the STEM disciplines of computer science, mathematics, and data science.

The STEM Career Pathways Scholarship program will award annual scholarships of $7,200 each to academically talented students who qualify for four years. When combined with other financial-aid sources, Bellarmine expects the scholarship will cover nearly all direct tuition costs for most of the recipients.

About the Program

The program will provide career-related experiential learning, through internships or research with industry partners in the community, and help all scholars attain STEM employment or enter a graduate program within six months of graduation.

Career Pathways will also contribute to the local, regional and national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers and technicians.

Community Partners

Bellarmine will work with the Jefferson County Public Schools’ career and technical academies to recruit students. A STEM (Tech/Analytics) Employer Advisory Board will facilitate new partnerships between students and regional employers and will keep faculty members apprised of the skills in greatest demand in STEM industries.

The eight community partners that have formally agreed to collaborate with Bellarmine on the Career Pathways program so far are:

• Appriss Inc.
• edjAnalytics
• El Toro
• Humana
• LG&E
• Masonic Home Kentucky
• GE Appliances
• The Microsoft Future of Work Initiative

Student Selection Criteria

The selection process for scholarship recipients will include indicators of academic merit and other indicators of likely professional success. For incoming freshmen, Bellarmine’s additional S-STEM selection criteria are:

1. high school GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale);
2. demonstrated success (average grade of B or higher) in high school science and math courses as shown on their high school transcript;
3. demonstrated financial need per a completed FAFSA; and
4. meeting all of Bellarmine’s admissions standards.

Interested in Applying for the Scholarship?

1. an essay on the following prompt: The Career Pathways Scholarship is for students interested in careers in mathematics, data science, computer science, or computer engineering. In 500 to 700 words explain which of these majors interests you, why it interests you, and what you want to do after graduation from college.  
2. a detailed and thorough letter of recommendation from a high school counselor or teacher (part of our standard admissions process);
3. a list of service, awards, honors, extracurricular activities, and distinctions as part of our standard admissions process; and
4. a completed FAFSA form.
   
   You must be a current applicant to Bellarmine to apply for this program. You will log in at the link below using the email and password for your Bellarmine application.