The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) celebrates its most recent class of 132 scholarship recipients, who are from 26 states and will be attending 26 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 2023 class
Jaivyn Beauford: 2023 FOSSI Scholar Attending Johnson C. Smith University
Jaivyn is from Fayetteville, GA, and attended Sandy Creek High School. She is currently attending Johnson C. Smith University as a biology major. Jaivyn finished Sandy Creek High School in the top eight percent of her class, earning a 4.016 along with receiving numerous honors and awards for her commitment to academic excellence and advocacy. Jaivyn was named 2023 Miss Georgia HBCU Teen and currently serves as an ambassador for Brown Girls Do Ballet, a program that promotes diversity in the arts. She is passionate about science and ultimately sees herself contributing to society by advocating for programs, focus groups, and funding to specifically address the need for innovation in careers that promote the advancement of science.
Laila Harris-Smith: 2023 FOSSI Scholar Attending Fort Valley State University
Laila is from Smyrna, GA, and attended Hillgrove High School. She is currently attending Fort Valley State University with plans to major in plant science with a concentration in biotechnology. She has been passionate about science ever since she attended science camp as a young child, and desires to continue learning and ultimately apply her knowledge and skills to improving the health of others and the planet. In the future, she desires to use her background in plant science and her master’s in pharmacy to conduct pharmaceutical research and create medicines that will improve society.
Anthony Tucker: 2023 FOSSI Scholar Attending Howard University
Anthony is from Atlanta, GA, and attended Westlake High School. He is currently attending Howard University with plans to major in computer science. Throughout high school, he received several accolades for his academic performance, including induction into the National Society of High School Scholars and the National Honor Society. He also participated in many extracurricular activities, including the National Honor Society, College Inroads, and the Distributive Education Club of America (DECA), where he held a leadership position and competed in business competitions. He is excited to pursue his passion for STEM and ultimately contribute to the greater good of society.
Chance Williams: 2023 FOSSI Scholar Attending Alabama A&M University
Chance is from Woodbridge, VA, and graduated from Forest Park High School. He is currently attending Alabama A&M University as a computer science major. He has participated in robotics since the fourth grade and has been to numerous state, national, and global championships. His extracurricular activities included serving as a student representative on the Prince William County School Board, restarting his school’s Black Student Union, leading a multicultural night, and working with local politicians to bring student voices to government. Chance is passionate about STEM as well as politics and public policy. After achieving his computer science degree, he hopes one day to create a company that uses artificial intelligence to both predict and solve modern-day problems.
We invite companies not currently supporting FOSSI to build their pipeline of outstanding and diverse talent by supporting a FOSSI scholar. Learn more.