STEM Outreach Goes Above and Beyond in the Bronx

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 students who are interested in STEM move from K-12 to college to graduate school, many leave at some point. Most of the students who leave STEM belong to under-represented groups. This is so unfortunate for many reasons. There’s a lot of published studies demonstrating the positive impact of developing a more diverse STEM professurate. So, any work we can do in the Bronx to keep individuals interested, excited and engaged with STEM is important.”

Careers in STEM are important for prospective students to consider because of the variety of benefits, including job security and good pay rates.

President Brother Daniel Gardner, FSC, spoke about the preparation MC provides to students to ensure they are successful if they choose to pursue a STEM career.

“Preparing students for success in the STEM fields is among Manhattan College’s highest priorities,” said Gardner. “The STEM sector is always among the fastest growing and most highly com- pensated industries for our graduates to enter.”

As with many things, the COVID-19 pandemic put the COCR’s outreach program on pause. This year will be the first full year many schools and students have completely returned to a pre-pandemic schooling model, allowing the program to once again reach its fullest potential.

Dana Brookover, assistant director of the COCR, explained how the outreach program is functioning post-pandemic and allows students to take full advantage of its opportunities.

“I feel like this 2022-2023 academic year is when we’re starting to see that pretty much everyone is back in person,” said Brookover. “It’s starting to feel a little bit like it was years ago and so at the COCR we are ready to get back in there and do that in-person work in the school settings with students.”

In a post-COVID world, the program has expanded past STEM outreach and has grown to focus more on mentorship preparation for college.

“Moving forward, we really want to just focus on helping local students achieve their college and their career dreams, whatever that might be for them,” said Brookover. “We want to start conversations with local students to increase their exposure to different STEM careers and how that connects to STEM majors, especially the ones at Manhattan College. We want to facilitate conversations around that and help students be able to achieve their dreams of pursuing STEM if that’s what they want to do.”

The program runs off of student volunteers for the program. These volunteers can be undergraduate or graduate students who can participate no matter what their major or GPA may be.

“I truly believe no matter what major you are or where you’re at in your program, you can make a big difference in being a mentor and being a role model to local students,” Brookover said. “I throw it out there that if anyone wants to be involved, they can and I will be providing training.”

Those who have volunteered with the program described the experience as more rewarding than they could have imagined.

Taylor Carroll, a graduate student who volunteers with the program, spoke about the influence it had on her both as an individual and a student.

“I had this one student that was really opening up to me this one time and she told me that she went home and told her dad that she had one of the best days at school so far, because she met this really great counselor, and ‘she listened to me and was able to provide me with some help’,” Carroll said. “Just being that positive adult figure in a middle-schooler’s life and getting that kind of feedback, you just don’t realize how much of a difference kindness can provide.”

The COCR has had continuous positive results throughout their time participating in outreach with local Bronx schools.

“I’ve noticed students feel a greater sense of support and accomplishment when they have a direct tutor/mentor meeting with them weekly,” Cossens wrote. “They also have more motivation and a more positive outlook on higher education.”

The COCR’s outreach program has helped students through the years discover their love for STEM and has given them the tools they needed to be successful in their chosen career. Going forward, the program and the college are excited to continue being a part of

STEM education in the Bronx.

“These tutoring services have helped many students who were previously underrepresented in STEM to achieve their full potential and to become leaders in their respective fields,” Gardner said. “We look forward to continuing to be on the forefront of STEM education in our own community and beyond.”

Students in the community are receiving a unique opportunity to see what awaits them in a STEM related field.