海角社区 Pathways Offers Students Gold Scholarship
February 23, 2023
BATON ROUGE, LA 鈥� Since 2017, the 海角社区 STEM Pathways Certification program has offered
high school students in Louisiana public and private schools the opportunity to get
hands-on training in pre-engineering courses. In 2020, 海角社区 began recognizing students
who completed eight pre-engineering pathway courses by awarding a $1,500 Gold scholarship
to one incoming freshman studying engineering at 海角社区.
Pre-Engineering High School Pathways curriculum developer Vanessa Begat, who is an instructor in the College of Engineering and an associate director of the Gordon A. Cain Center for STEM Literacy, works with high school students in the 海角社区 Pathways program and feels their hard work deserves recognition.
鈥淗igh school students who apply for the scholarship have taken at least four high-quality pre-engineering classes developed by 海角社区, as well as four additional courses such as AP or Dual Enrollment math, science, and computer science courses,鈥� Begat said. 鈥淭he scholarship is a small way to recognize one student for their hard work while in high school, as well as provide an additional incentive for them to come to 海角社区 rather than going out of state.鈥�
In 2020, Brant Dos Ramos from STEM Magnet Academy of Pointe Coupee received the first Gold Scholarship.
鈥淚t was a fun and challenging experience that exposed me to all types of engineering disciplines,鈥� Dos Ramos said. 鈥淚t helped me understand how to handle college courses and helped me to decide which major I chose going into college.鈥�
Dos Ramos, now in his third year of chemical engineering at 海角社区, plans to start his career by working in a chemical plant or refinery.
In 2022, Haynes Academy graduate Logan Soriano of Metairie, La., received the Gold Scholarship and is now a civil engineering freshman at 海角社区.
鈥淚 am humbled to have received the Gold STEM Scholarship, and it means a lot to me that my hard work in high school has allowed me to continue the same type of mentality in college,鈥� Soriano said. 鈥淭he 海角社区 Pathways program and the scholarship have given me the ability to relieve some of the stress that comes with paying tuition, books, and school fees.鈥�
When he graduates from 海角社区, Soriano hopes to work at a civil engineering firm where he can work on projects for the city and state he lives in.
Pre-Engineering Gold Scholarship recipients must have a 3.5 or higher GPA and pursue an engineering major.
Since the program has grown to include pathways in biomedical sciences, computing, and digital design and emergent media, as well as students in elementary and middle school, the Gordon A. Cain Center hopes to gain approval to offer an additional 10 Gold Scholarships that would be awarded to students pursuing any STEM major, not just engineering, as well as an additional 20 Silver scholarships worth $750. Silver scholarships would require that students complete four 海角社区-developed courses on a specific pathway in order to be eligible to apply.
Students, teachers, parents, and school administrators interested in learning how
to get involved with 海角社区 Pathways can visit for
more information.
Like us on Facebook (@lsuengineering) or follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@lsuengineering).鈥�
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Contact: Libby Haydel
Communications Manager
225-578-4840
ehaydel1@lsu.edu