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
Kayla Gordon: 2023 FOSSI Scholar Attending Spelman College
Kayla is from Orlando, FL, and graduated from Bishop Moore Catholic High School. She is currently attending Spelman College as a biology and biomedical engineering dual major. With her STEM degree, she hopes to serve the critical needs of child amputees by learning how to incorporate new materials and new manufacturing processes to make better prosthetics. She envisions herself creating new designs for new medical devices, prototyping, and testing them on young children in need. With the help of the FOSSI scholarship, she plans to become the first biomedical engineer in her family.
Meet Elijah Lewis: 2023 FOSSI Scholar Attending North Carolina A&T State University
Elijah is from Douglasville, GA, and graduated from the STEM magnet program at Lithia Springs High School. He is currently attending North Carolina A&T State University as a computer science major. In high school, he was a member of several clubs and athletic teams, including the National Honor Society, Robotics Club, and his school's cross-country team. He is passionate about STEM because of its ability to make people's lives easier. He is grateful to be awarded the FOSSI scholarship and hopes to, one day, establish his own data science firm focused on education and information, positively impacting millions of families around the world.
Abigail Limiri: 2023 FOSSI Scholar Attending University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Abigail is from Bear, DE, and graduated from St. George’s Technical High School with a 4.15 GPA. She is currently attending The University of Maryland Eastern Shore as a biochemistry major. She was very active in high school and served as captain of the varsity volleyball team, a member of NHS, the Black Student Union, and the Secretary of Lyfe Club. She also participated in programs outside of school such as STEM UP Delaware and Upward Bound Math and Science. She is passionate about STEM because of the endless opportunities it presents and its ability to solve real-world problems. In the future, she plans to become a clinical pediatric pharmacist and ultimately improve medical therapy, taking a more holistic approach to patient care.
Xavier Thompson: 2023 FOSSI Scholar Attending Delaware State University
Xavier is from Elkins Park, PA, and graduated from Cheltenham High School. He is currently attending Delaware State University as a bioengineering major. He describes himself as a compassionate and creative young man, and desires to use his bioengineering degree to change the trajectory of health and well-being by contributing to innovation and sustainability. With the help of the FOSSI scholarship, he plans to become a major contributor to medical advancements, such as the design and creation of artificial organs and limbs, and devices that address paralysis.
We invite companies not currently supporting FOSSI to build their pipeline of outstanding and diverse talent by supporting a FOSSI scholar. Learn more.