Eckerd College Receives Grant to Provide STEM Summer Camp Scholarships for Low-Income Families

The Summer Science Splash Camp is a vital STEM summer programming that provides opportunities for campers from low-income families. To make this program accessible to more students, the Community Foundation Tampa Bay has awarded a grant to Eckerd College. This grant will be used to provide scholarships to campers from low-income families attending the camp.

The scholarship amount will be determined based on financial need, with some campers receiving partial scholarships and others receiving full scholarships. Currently, 32 families are benefiting from scholarship assistance, accounting for about one-third of all campers. The average partial scholarship amount for 2024 is $480, which covers more than half of the total cost of the camp, which is $799.

Kristen Rynerson ’10, conference and pre-college coordinator at Eckerd College expressed her excitement about the opportunity to offer scholarships to campers. She stated, “We recognize that the cost of this overnight residential camp is high, but being able to cut the cost of attendance for those in need brings this crucial STEM summer programming to marginalized students who would likely otherwise not have the opportunity to attend anything like it.”

The Community Foundation Tampa Bay plays a crucial role in making this program accessible by serving as philanthropic partners, connectors, and advisors to support initiatives like the scholarship program for the Summer Science Splash Camp. By providing financial assistance to students from low-income families, this grant helps ensure that all students have equal access to important STEM education and opportunities for personal growth.