Scholarship program to enhance student success

The National Science Foundation recently approved funding for a $600,000 scholarship program that will provide $5,000 a year for 28 Brockport students. The proposal, submitted by mathematics professor, Dr. Sanford Miller, received excellent reviews from the NSF panel."We've had extreme success with this program in the past," Miller said. "We're looking forward to help students progress in their studies."

This four-year program, called "Brockport Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science Scholarship Program" (BPMACS) is intended for juniors, seniors and graduate students majoring in physics, mathematics and computer science.

"The application process is really competitive," Miller said.

Last year, Brockport didn't get the renewal for the upper division program.

Out of the 277 proposals from competing universities, the National Science Foundation only made 85 awards. Surrounding universities, such as Cornell and the University of Rochester, have also applied for grants in the past.

The panel that reviewed Miller's proposal cited the program has "an exceptionally-strong management team."

As a result of this program, Brockport has seen a 95 percent graduation rate. The theme of the scholarship is "students completing their degrees."

"Part of the purpose is to get these students off the treadmill of odd jobs so they can concentrate on their studies," Miller said.

This scholarship program is the second of its kind awarded to The College at Brockport. Another $600,000 grant, named "Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science Scholarship Program" (PMACS) for freshmen and sophomores, was awarded last year.

As a result, The College at Brockport will have a total of $1.2 million for 212 one-year scholarships to distribute between fall 2008 to spring 2013. This program provides $5,400 per year for freshmen and sophomores majoring in physics, mathematics and computer science. This means PMACS freshmen entering in the fall 2008 or 2009 could receive $20,800 over four years, or $25,800 over five years, if they pursue a graduate degree.

"We have had an amazingly strong group of 13 freshmen and 12 sophomores in this year's PMACS class and next year's class looks even stronger," Miller said. "I have informed both groups of the news, and needless to say, they were delighted about the possibility of an extra two or three years of support."

Miller was assisted by Professor Kadathur Lakshmana and Joan Lucas of the Department of Computer Science, Professor Mihail Barbosu of the Department of Mathematics, Professors Stanley Radford and Eric Monier of the Department of Physics and Adam Standish, Coordinator of the Scholarship Office.

Applications and information about each of the programs can be obtained at www.brockport.edu/pmacs and www.brockport.edu/bpmacs.