Herbert Medina, Professor of Mathematics, has been awarded $552,000 by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a new scholarship program for 12 Los Angeles students. The Descartes Scholars Program will begin in fall 2010  and will provide four-year, need-based scholarships of $10,000 per year to the 12 students selected.

“The NSF Descartes Scholarship will bring twelve very talented students to LMU who probably would not have been able to afford a high-quality college education,” says Medina, director of the program. “The National Science Foundation is indeed cultivating untapped math, science, engineering and technology talent through its funding of these scholarships.”

Medina will lead a team that includes LMU faculty members Jose A. Saez and S. W. Tina Choe, Barbara A. Christie, director for student success, and Catherine Graham, director of financial aid.

One of the project’s objectives is to ensure that the 12 Descartes Scholars earn bachelor’s degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, which have lower percentages of professionals from minority backgrounds.

The Descartes Scholars, in addition to experiencing professional and educational enrichment opportunities throughout their four years, will also be able to take advantage of study abroad programs and one-on-one internships.

“This project is completely in line with LMU’s mission. These 12 students will be high-impact students who could end up significantly enhancing LMU’s College of Science and Engineering,” says Medina. They also may contribute significantly to America’s science and engineering workforce through their own work and the work they inspire in the people who they eventually mentor and inspire.”

Click here for more information about LMU Descartes Scholarship Project .