FOSSI Sparkles at HBCU Week College Fair in Orlando

On October 24, 2024, FOSSI founding partner HBCU Week Foundation hosted its second College Fair in partnership with The Walt Disney Company in Orlando, FL. At the fair, the FOSSI team hosted a mega-booth and was joined by sponsors from Eastman, Pfizer, and Univar, who distributed 2025 application flyers and answered questions from more than 10,000 high school students, parents, teachers, and representatives from 45+ HBCUs.

I couldn’t be an astronaut, so I decided to help fix the earth. STEM fields help change the world. We are the problem solvers at the forefront of innovation providing solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.” Andrew Yacinthe, Environmental Engineer, Eastman

FOSSI also hosted a Lunch & Learn on “The Superpowers of a STEM Degree” and surprise guest, actor Anthony Anderson, energized the crowd exclaiming “You picked the right room! Listen to these talented speakers and ask lots of questions.”

Following Anderson, Dr. Kimberly Wise White, Vice President, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, American Chemistry Council (ACC), welcomed students and provided details about the FOSSI scholarship and its unique benefits.

Brad A. Lich, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer at Eastman, a FOSSI sponsor company, then led a discussion highlighting Eastman’s rich history of innovation, the chemical industry’s increasing need for STEM graduates, and the abundance of exciting, high-paying jobs right out of college.

He was joined by Eastman colleagues Andrew Yacinthe, an environmental engineer, and Alyshia Williams, a chemical engineer, who spoke of their college experiences and the choices that helped determine their eventual career paths.

Williams noted her love of science, math, and problem-solving and her desire to contribute to her communities by developing safe sustainable solutions to address the waste crisis and climate change.

Yacinthe told students, "I couldn’t be an astronaut, so I decided to help fix the earth. STEM fields help change the world. We are the problem solvers at the forefront of innovation providing solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.”

If you know of any high school seniors who are eligible for the FOSSI scholarship, please encourage them to apply! The application deadline is January 31, 2025.

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