In partnership with The American Chemistry Council (ACC), Chemours, and HBCU Week Foundation, the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) was established in November 2020 with the goal of helping to combat the lack of diversity in the STEM workforce. FOSSI provides scholarship recipients $10,000 per year for four years, helping to eliminate financial barriers for historically underrepresented groups.
The FOSSI initiative welcomed 151 scholars in its inaugural year. In 2022, the program celebrates its new class of 144 FOSSI scholars, who are from 25 states and will be attending 34 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) this fall.
See the video below for an inside look into how FOSSI is changing the lives of these amazing scholars.
Meet more of FOSSI’s 2022 class
Taylor Cobb: 2022 FOSSI Scholar Attending Tennessee State University
Taylor is a graduating senior at Lockport Township High School. She will be attending Tennessee State University in the fall with plans to major in computer science and criminal justice. Helping others is one of her passions, and she aspires to change the world through computer science and criminal justice by working as a criminal intelligence/cyber security analyst in the future.
Israel Fayne: 2022 FOSSI Scholar Attending Tennessee State University
Israel graduated from Franklin Road Academy Nashville, Tennessee. He will be attending Tennessee State University in the fall with plans to major in computer science. He is passionate about pursuing a STEM degree, as it would give him the tools necessary to develop truly innovative technology. Israel’s dream is to work for and innovatively impact a major technological corporation.
Cianni Wallace: 2022 FOSSI Scholar Attending Howard University
Cianni graduated form The City School in Philadelphia, PA. She will be attending Howard University in the fall with plans to major in environmental studies. Two of her passions include social and environmental justice, and she enjoys spending time spreading awareness to her peers on the subjects. She ultimately desires to leave a positive impact on the planet through her career in STEM.
Jaimon Washington: 2022 FOSSI Scholar Attending Howard University
Jaimon graduated from Parkway Northwest High School in Philadelphia, PA. He will be attending Howard University in the fall, with plans to major in biology and minor in chemistry. He is passionate about pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field because of his desire to leave a positive impact on the world. He is grateful for the FOSSI scholarship, as it is a stepping stone for his future endeavors in science.