Fully Endowed Fellows Fund Fuels K-12 STEM Outreach

In an extraordinary milestone, AIChE® and the AIChE Foundation are proud to announce the successful endowment of the Fellows Endowment , raising more than $50,000 to support the expansion of the K-12 STEM Ambassador Program. This milestone represents the power of community and a shared vision for inspiring the next generation of chemical engineers. The final push of fundraising momentum came following the Fellows Breakfast at the 2024 AIChE Annual Meeting, where Fellows rallied together to complete this transformative effort.

“[AIChE] Fellow candidates must have demonstrated ‘Service to the Profession.’ As such, Fellows are always looking for ways to ‘give back’ to the Chemical Engineering profession. Thus, the Fellowship, upon being aware of the Bee a ChemE program, saw a natural way to ‘give back’ in a sustainable and ongoing way for years to come.” – Anthony Fregosi, Fellows Council Member

Empowering the Future of STEM

The Fellows Endowment reflects the unwavering commitment of AIChE Fellows, the organization’s most distinguished members, to fostering educational outreach and advancing diversity in STEM fields. Their generosity will ensure that more students have access to the life-changing opportunities offered by AIChE’s initiatives.

The K-12 STEM Ambassador Program, a highlight of AIChE’s Bee a ChemE initiative, has already introduced over 300 elementary and middle school students to the wonders of STEM. Launched in 2021 at Ohio State University, this dynamic program pairs AIChE undergraduate leaders with classrooms, creating hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and open doors to future careers in chemical engineering.

With the new funding, the program, which currently includes seven student chapter universities, will expand to an eighth school, reaching students in underserved communities and showing them that STEM careers are as diverse and inspiring as their own dreams.

Growing the Impact

Thanks to the Fellows Endowment, a new student chapter of the program will soon launch, broadening its reach and creating lasting impact. This expansion is a testament to the collective dedication of AIChE members and supporters to make STEM education accessible to all.

Reflecting on the Fellows’ involvement, Anthony Fregosi, Fellows Council member and Council Secretary, shared his perspective on the importance of this initiative:

“The AIChE membership grade of ‘Fellow’ is the highest grade within the Institute. It is limited to 5% of the total Institute membership. Unlike many other technical organizations similar to AIChE, Fellow candidates must have demonstrated ‘Service to the Profession.’

As such, Fellows are always looking for ways to ‘give back’ to the Chemical Engineering profession. Thus, the Fellowship, upon being aware of the Bee a ChemE program, saw a natural way to ‘give back’ in a sustainable and ongoing way for years to come.

The Fellowship also invites anyone ‘worldwide’ to make a donation to the Fellows Endowment to ensure we continue to grow the profession by encouraging our youth to consider a career in Chemical Engineering in particular and STEM fields in general.”

Looking Ahead

This success story is just the beginning. AIChE invites everyone to join this mission and help inspire the next generation. By supporting initiatives like the K-12 STEM Ambassador Program, we can ensure that students everywhere discover the excitement of STEM and see themselves as future innovators and leaders.

Together, we can transform lives and build a brighter future—one student at a time.

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