2017 Annual Report

Outreach & Equity

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS

Continuing the Society’s commitment to expanding opportunities for underserved students, the Advocate Grant Program experienced strong growth and success in 2017. Advocates serve asmentors for a group of underservedmiddle or high school students, helping them transition fromdoing science projects and research to entering their work in science research competitions. In addition to a stipend, Advocates receive an all-expenses-paid trip toWashington, D.C., for the Advocate Training Institute, an event where they are given additional training and support fromSociety staff and Lead Advocates. Lead Advocates are returning Advocates who provide an extra layer of support for newAdvocates throughout the program viamonthly conference calls as well as through an online community. Following a successful pilot program of nine Advocates in 2015, the Advocate Grant Programexpanded to serve 31 participants in 2016. That cohort closed

out their grant cycle in the spring of 2017, havingmentored over 500 underserved students, withmore than 400 of them entering science research competitions, including local and regional fairs, Intel ISEF and the Regeneron Science Talent Search. In the spring of 2017, the Society welcomed a new cohort of 45 Advocates, including six Lead Advocates. Following the Advocate Training Institute in June 2017, those 45 participants recruited over 700 underserved students, many of whom subsequently entered or will enter science research competitions. The Society Advocate Grant Program ismade possible through the support of Arconic Foundation, JackKent Cooke Foundation and Regeneron. Through their support, the number of Advocates continues to grow, enabling the Society to reach and engage underserved students and help thementer STEMcompetitions.

Teachers work on a project with students at the Advocate Training Institute inWashington, D.C.

Ameka Yawson works on scientific research with Jamie Ludwig, an Advocate for the 2017–2018 school year.

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