1. Culinary home page
  2. S-STEM Scholarship

S-STEM Scholarship

Offered by the RST Academy

Unfortunately, our S-STEM scholarship funding (funded by the National Science Foundation) has ended. We hope to receive additional funding in the future.

Steps to Apply

  1. Join the RST Academy
  2. Submit a FAFSA (free application for financial aid)
  3. Apply through our Online Application!

Scholarship Application

Eligibility

  • Be an RST Academy member;
  • Pursue a transfer degree in one of the following STEM fields:
  •     Biological Sciences
        Does not include medicine and other clinical fields.
  •     Physical Sciences
        Includes physics, chemistry, astronomy, and materials science.
  •     Mathematical, Computer, and Information Sciences
  •     Geosciences
  •     Engineering
  •     Technology areas associated with the preceding disciplines
        Biotechnology, Chemical Technology, Engineering Technology, Information Technology
  • Be a US citizen or permanent resident.
  • Demonstrate financial need, as verified by FAFSA.
    FAFSA must be submitted by the time we evaluate your scholarship.
  • Priority consideration is given to STEM students enrolled in MATH 098 or lower.

Application Materials

  • Contact information, including your intended major and the highest level of math you have completed.
  • FAFSA submitted for the current/upcoming academic year.
  • Names and contact information for two references.
  • Answers to three short questions about your background and STEM interests.
  • Two Recommendation Letters or References (see below for more information)

Recommendation Letters or References

North and Central Students

Applicants who have placed into or enrolled in Math 102 or higher must provide two letters of recommendation from instructors. Students in lower-numbered math courses only need to provide the contact information of two references. See upload form for details.

South Students

South Applicants only need to provide two references. These references will have a short phone call with a scholarship committee representative or fill out a 15 minute survey about their applicants. Please provide at least one reference who is a South Instructor. 

Finding References or Recommendation Writers

To identify a reference/letter of recommendation writer, please find a faculty mentor, supervisor, or an instructor in whose class you did well. Reach out to them early in the process, most references would prefer a two to three (2-3) week notice. Let them know the specific accomplishments and projects you would like them to mention in their recommendation letter or reference survey. Provide them with information about where and when to submit their letters of recommendation or reference survey at https://rst.seattlecolleges.edu/scholarship/app/recommendation-letter-reference.

Scholarship Expectations

Students who receive the S-STEM Scholarship are expected to complete capstone projects, attend RST Academy events, interact extensively with their RST mentor, and otherwise rise as exemplary students within the RST Academy. Each of these activities helps you become successful:

  • Maintain a 2.8 GPA
  • Maintain full-time enrollment as a STEM major (seeking an associate degree) at Seattle Colleges
  • Remain an active RST member by attending at least two RST events per quarter
  • Meet with your faculty mentor two times per quarter
  • Complete end of quarter surveys about your experience with the S-STEM program
  • Submit a FAFSA each academic year

Renewal Criteria

At the end of each quarter, program leadership makes sure that scholarship students are meeting regularly with their faculty mentor and also evaluates their quarterly GPA. To remain on scholarship, students must continue to make progress toward an A.S. degree and transfer to a STEM major at a four-year institution. In some cases, students may be placed on probation pending improvements in GPA, successful completion of full-time coursework, or regular meetings with their faculty mentor.