The April L. Simmons STEM Scholarship for Girls was created as a result of a critical need to increase the involvement of African-American girls in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). As noted on www.scientistafoundation.com, "While the 10.7% figure for Bachelor’s degree and 13% for Master’s is encouraging, the percentages obscure some fields (such as mathematics), where African American female degree attainment is 800% less than degree-attainment levels for white females!" According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), African American women and girls comprise a little more than 6% (N=19,730,247) of the total U.S. population, 14% (N=861,642) of female students enrolled at four-year institutions, and 10.4% (N=19,160) of female graduate enrollment in STEM fields.

 

Although this data has improved in the last few years, it is imperative that we continue to serve as an outreach apparatus, aimed at providing financial assistance to black girls, as they are highly under-represented in the STEM workplace. Through the April L. Simmons Scholarship for Girls, promising young women of African descent can realize their dreams in pursuing a college degree. The foundation includes raising funds to provide scholarships to female students at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and female adolescents in the Miami-Dade, Broward or West Palm Beach County Public High Schools, with the interest of attending FAMU.