Continuing and incoming Schmid College of Science and Technology students will be able to work in labs and gain research experience in Orange County with the new Wescombe STEM Scholarship offered by the Beckman Foundation and Chapman University. 

Honoring former Beckman Foundation board member Gary Wescombe, the scholarship was first announced to the public on Oct. 3 during an unveiling by the Beckman Foundation at the Keck Center for Science and Technology. 

Schmid College Dean Michael Ibba expressed his anticipation for the new scholarship as not just support for students, but also experience that will benefit their lives after graduation. 

“Students will have support from other students and a support network, (and) it helps them in terms of learning in the classroom and opportunities for research,” Ibba told The Panther. “It is more than financial, they come into an academic group as well.” 

The scholarship will focus on experiences in Orange County, allowing students to gain support nearby rather than having to travel far away.   

“We want all of our students in Schmid to feel that they have support; it's a way for us to grow the scholarship,” Ibba said. “Students will also have opportunities to help them stay in Orange County, so they won't feel like they have to leave the county to fulfill their potential.” 

The scholarship will be given to six students in the upcoming 2024-2025 school year: two students from the incoming class, two sophomores and two juniors. This four-year program will support students with internships, micro internships, volunteering opportunities and the chance to shadow mentors.

Mentorship has been a significant benefit for many STEM students at Schmid College, according to Ibba. Mentors can become role models for students, by encouraging them and advising them in their research. 

Biological sciences senior Paul Rosa described how his experience and research within the Beckman Scholars program, a mentorship research program within Schmid and the Beckman Foundation, has allowed him to further his career.

“The amount of responsibility my lab professor requires and the amount of work ethic students need includes creating your own research tasks, your next stops in your research and being organized and efficient with your time,” Rosa said. “It’s as real as a research experience is going to get, (and) it’s very similar to what you would be doing in a graduate program.” 

Since the scholarship is still being developed, a criteria has not been created yet. However, Ibba and Schmid College Associate Dean Elaine Schwartz emphasized the importance of a student’s passion and drive for science and the research they intend to pursue. 

“Exposure is the name of the game. Students are looking for those experiences that will excite them and give them purpose,” Schwartz said in an interview with The Panther. 

Giving students opportunities in each grade year is the goal of the new scholarship, specifically opportunities in Orange County. 

“That experience is so foundational and transformative at an early stage that could direct a student in multiple ways,” Schwartz said. “Many students come in not knowing what their pathway is, but that's irrelevant. The important aspect is that they are willing to explore and really jump in; that level of enthusiasm is the metric that we look for.” 

Ibba and Schwartz both emphasized the significance of providing opportunities, support and mentorship for students who are looking to grow during their educational career at Chapman. 

Senior biochemistry major Kevin Nguyen described his current project with the Beckman Foundation and how it has improved his confidence in not just his research, but also his career as a whole. 

“One of my favorite aspects of the Beckman Scholars program is their trust with students and their outreach efforts. It gives me confidence in my work and in myself as a STEM student,” Nguyen said. “Currently, I am working on establishing a science forum for spring 2024 students that includes inviting professors from other universities to present a lecture and engage with students.”