The Aspen Institute Announces the 2017 Siemens Technical Scholars

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Aspen Institute and the Siemens Foundation today announced the 2017 Siemens Technical Scholars, a partnership aimed at increasing awareness about the economic opportunity available through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs and education at community colleges.  The organizations awarded 51 exceptional current and recent community college students a total of more than $200,000 in scholarships to pay for and advance their education.

Data show that workers with a postsecondary education earn 74% more than those with just a high school diploma. Looking ahead, the premium conferred by a college degree will continue to be greatest in STEM fields, where the growth in jobs is projected at almost double the rate for non-STEM occupations. Yet, employers in regions throughout the country are experiencing and projecting significant shortages in qualified STEM workers. More than half of STEM jobs across the United States today require no more than an associate's degree and pay wages that average more than $50,000 annually.

The Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program (CEP) has been working over the past six years to identify top community colleges that do an outstanding job of providing students with the knowledge, skills, and credentials they need for success both in college and after graduating.  Repeatedly seeing data that show STEM two year programs leading to rewarding careers while at the same time strengthening communities, CEP has – through a generous grant from the Siemens Foundation – been working to better understand what makes such programs effective and increase awareness about these career and education opportunities for students across the country.

"These are fields that offer satisfying careers and immense earning opportunities and yet so many jobs are going unfilled," said David Etzwiler, CEO of Siemens Foundation. "We need to make sure that students, parents and college guidance counselors understand the value of STEM community college programs as a pathway to job security and financial success. Community colleges are essential to extending such opportunity to more students while meeting current and future employer demand."

The exceptional individuals announced today as Siemens Technical Scholars are being awarded scholarships of between $3,500 and $10,000. They are all current students or recent graduates of STEM programs at community colleges across the country. See detailed listing of students and programs below and more information at http://highered.aspeninstitute.org/siemens-technical-scholars.

"Speaking with Siemens Technical Scholars and the educators who helped them learn their trades makes clear that these exceptional students are benefiting from a first rate education," said Joshua Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. "Siemens Scholars are learning both technical skills and the kinds of critical thinking and communications skills that every college student needs to be successful in their life and career.  We all have a vested interest in helping more community colleges foster that kind of success."

Today's announcement is for the second class 2017 Siemens Technical Scholars, bringing to 80 the total number of students and graduates of STEM community college programs supported by the Siemens Foundation.  Over the coming year and beyond, CEP will follow the success of the Siemens Technical Scholars and work with the Siemens Foundation to share their stories as well as lessons about how exceptional community college programs in STEM fields can enable high levels of student success both during college and after they graduate. 

2017 Siemens Technical Scholars and Community College STEM Degree Programs

On average, 85% of graduates from these programs were placed in jobs within 6 months of graduation with a starting salary range of $37,858 - $77,423 per year.

The Aspen College Excellence Program aims to advance higher education practices, policies, and leadership that significantly improve student outcomes. Through the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the Siemens Technical Scholars Program, and other initiatives, the College Excellence Program works to improve colleges' understanding and capacity to teach and graduate students, especially the growing population of low-income and minority students on American campuses. For more information, visit http://highered.aspeninstitute.org/.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org. 

The Siemens Foundation has invested more than $100 million in the United States to advance workforce development and education initiatives in science, technology, engineering and math.  The Siemens Foundation's mission is inspired by the culture of innovation, research and continuous learning that is the hallmark of Siemens' companies. Together, the programs at the Siemens Foundation are closing the opportunity gap for young people in the U.S. when it comes to STEM careers, and igniting and sustaining today's STEM workforce and tomorrow's scientists and engineers. For further information, visit http://www.siemens-foundation.org/  or follow @sfoundation. Follow the Siemens Foundation on Facebook and Twitter. 

SOURCE The Aspen Institute

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