Stony Brook University’s Simons STEM Scholars Program marked the signing of its second cohort (S2) of students this past May at the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute in New York City. In July, these students participated in a six-week Summer Bridge Program at Stony Brook designed to prepare them for their upcoming academic journey.
The incoming class of 50 scholars was selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants. With an average SAT score of 1410 and an average grade point average of 95, the scholars represent the top five percent of high school students. Executive Director Erwin Cabrera highlighted the significance of this growth for the program.
“We had 29 students in our first class and these 50 students bring us to 79,” he said. “And it’s going to grow from there. We have to make sure we can support them.”
The Summer Bridge program provided students with an introduction to college life at Stony Brook before starting their first year. During the program, they took courses in mathematics and psychology and were introduced to other aspects of university life.
“There were research talks, seminars, leadership pathways, and we did site visits to various research institutions,” said Cabrera. “They worked with an offshore wind company at CEWIT (Center for Excellence, Wireless and Information Technology) and we had faculty from all over campus come speak to our students, from every college and from every discipline. But they also went out and had some fun. And I think that’s really important for Bridge in particular, for them to understand that there is a balance between academics and having fun.”
Cabrera noted that a larger class allowed for more specialized site visits tailored to different majors.
“A larger class meant we could specialize things in a different way,” said Cabrera. “We divided them up by their majors and areas of interest. One group went to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. One group went to Brookhaven National Laboratory. Another group went to Stony Brook’s medical center.”
“Summer Bridge is a transformative experience that is indescribable,” said Natasha McCombs, Summer Bridge coordinator and academic advisor.“Fifty voices shined, laughed, and cried, and those same 50 individuals became a cohort.”
“To be challenged is to be changed,” said cohort member Emily Scherl. “That definitely rang true this summer."
“It was genuinely challenging but made me more prepared for college,” added Walter Benitez.
After a successful first year, Cabrera emphasized that each class will have its own unique characteristics.
“Every class has its own dreams, visions, and personalities,” he said. “It’s about adapting year-to-year... The program will evolve with each new cohort.”
Cabrera mentioned that almost 70 percent of the S1 group were accepted into summer research programs outside Stony Brook at institutions such as Yale, Texas A&M, Carnegie Mellon, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri.
“And following in their footsteps," he added,"our second class is also coming in with a multitude of research experiences."
The Simons STEM Scholars Program is funded by the Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International following a $56.6 million donation from Jim Simons and his wife Marilyn in 2022 aimed at increasing diversity in STEM fields.
“This program is also about increasing our recognition not only nationally but globally,” said Cabrera.
– Robert Emproto