FIRST Grants to Increase Access to Quality STEM Experiences

To address inequalities in STEM education, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is launching a new grant program for students who are typically underrepresented and underserved in STEM. The 2017 FIRST STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant is designed to help ensure underrepresented students and their communities have access to “creative problem-solving and hands-on learning” and that they are educated about future career opportunities available to them.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that STEM jobs will double the rate of other fields, but approximately 1.2 million positions will be unfilled due to a lack of applicable training. To combat this, FIRST will provide funding (grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000), technical training and program implementation support for up to 15 communities in the United States and Canada.

“As demographics shift and our population grows more diverse, creating equity is more important than ever. Persistent gaps in health, employment, education and opportunity prevent certain populations from realizing their full potential,” said Shelley Henderson, diversity and inclusion manager at FIRST, in a statement. “Through this grant and other strategic initiatives at FIRST, it is our goal to address this. We want to provide access to our life-changing STEM programs to as many students as possible while supporting communities and the people they serve in pursuit of equity.”

The grant program begins disbursing funds in July 2017 and ends on June 30, 2018. To apply, visit the FIRST site.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • handshake between two individuals with AI icons (brain, chip, network, robot) in the background

    Microsoft, Amazon Announce New Commitments in Support of Presidential AI Challenge

    At the Sept. 4 meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, Microsoft and Amazon announced new commitments to expanding AI education and skills training.

  • digital learning resources including a document, video tutorial, quiz checklist, pie chart, and AI cloud icon

    Quizizz Rebrands as Wayground, Announces New AI Features

    Learning platform Quizizz has become Wayground, in a rebranding meant to reflect "the platform's evolution from a quiz tool into a more versatile supplemental learning platform that's supported by AI," according to a news announcement.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A recent report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.