Seven Bemidji State University STEM Scholar students attended the S-STEM Scholars Meeting in San Diego, California, this fall, with three presenting their original research.

The conference, hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), brought together hundreds of undergraduate researchers from across the country. For BSU STEM Scholar students, it was a chance to represent their university and see how their work connects to the wider world of science.

Austin Crocker, Chloe Knott and Gloria Rose, students in BSU’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Scholars Program, were among the attendees. The STEM Scholars Program is funded by a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, with $1.6 million directed to students through scholarships, research funding and other support.

Each student arrived in San Diego with a story and project that reflected their unique passions within science.

Knott, a chemistry major, presented her project, “NBD-Cm as a Fluorescent Probe for Hydrogen Sulfide Detection,” highlighting her progress in the lab under the advisement of Dr. Katie Peterson, professor of chemistry and the program’s director.

Crocker, a biology major, shared his ongoing project, “From Fear to Fact: Heuristic Education and Changing Undergraduate Students’ Perception of Wolves (Canis lupus),“ developed in collaboration with Dr. Hilary Barron in BSU’s biology department and one of the programs lead faculty members.

Rose, a biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology (BCMB) major, presented “Isolation, Cloning and Transformation of DFR from Citrus sinensis (Velencia) leaf tissue into Escherichia coli (TOP10),“ based on research she conducted during a 10-week summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

For Rose, the experience was more than an academic milestone.

“The AAAS S-STEM Scholars Meeting was an incredible experience,” she said. “It was amazing to be surrounded by people from all over the U.S. who shared an interest in science. Connecting with such a wide array of people and hearing their insights was eye-opening. Not only did we get to present our research to other scientists, but we were also able to explore the wonderful city of San Diego.”

For sophomore and mathematics major, Lainie Barney, another STEM scholar who attended, the conference also provided a meaningful step toward her future in STEM.

“Through this experience I got closer to people in my cohort, made connections outside my current network and learned some career skills,” Barney said. “Regardless of my schooling plans, the speakers and general experience were inspiring and I’m on a better foot for planning my next steps after college.”

Building Scholars, One Cohort at a Time

This fall, 38 STEM Scholars are enrolled at Bemidji State, a group united by curiosity, community and shared opportunity. Thirteen of those students arrived on campus early for kickstart week, a pre-semester program designed to help new scholars transition to college life.

Kickstart week gives incoming students a head start and a network through team activities, faculty connections and hands-on outdoor learning. Leading the kickstart week are biology faculty, Dr. Kjerstin Owens and Dr. Holly Laferriere, who planned every detail of the week and participated in numerous activities with the STEM Scholars.

Recent Kickstart highlights included a canoe trip on the Mississippi River with Dr. Todd Frauenholtz from BSU’s mathematics department and a visit to Lake Bemidji State Park with Dr. Mark Fulton from BSU’s biology department.

The STEM Scholars program’s foundation is built on the belief that financial support alone isn’t enough to help students succeed in STEM. By pairing funding with mentorship, research opportunities and community, the program aims to open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

A Broader Vision

At its core, BSU’s STEM Scholars project is more than a scholarship fund; it’s a long-term investment in student potential and the region’s scientific future.

The project seeks to support 55 or more students pursuing degrees in STEM fields by providing the resources and guidance they need to persist through college and enter meaningful careers in STEM fields.

To reach those goals, BSU’s approach is intentionally comprehensive, addressing the financial, social, academic and curricular needs of each student.

Financially, scholars receive support through scholarships and childcare assistance. Socially, they develop a strong sense of belonging through living-learning communities, peer mentorship and the kickstart week pre-orientation program. Academically, students gain early exposure to research, participate in First-Year Experience courses and build science identities through hands-on projects and faculty collaboration.

Faculty members also participate in professional development focused on culturally responsive teaching, social-emotional learning and mentorship best practices, ensuring that the support structure for STEM students is both inclusive and effective.

Community Through Science

For many of BSU’s STEM Scholars, the most transformative part of the experience isn’t just the research itself; it’s the relationships built along the way.

In a field where students can sometimes feel isolated or uncertain, the STEM Scholars program offers a steady foundation of mentorship and community. From lab work to conference presentations, from early mornings in the field to late nights preparing posters, scholars learn that science thrives on collaboration.

The program’s success can already be seen in the confidence of students like Knott, Rose, Crocker and Barney and in the connections they’re building between Bemidji and the broader scientific community.

Through hands-on research, mentorship and shared experiences like the San Diego conference, BSU’s STEM Scholars are learning that their ideas matter and that their journeys in science are just beginning.

The Future of STEM

Next fall, the STEM Scholars program will be accepting applications for new, returning and transfer students with at least 30 earned credits, a GPA of 2.5 or higher, who are Pell eligible.

Dr. Katie Peterson emphasized the impact this program makes on students, not only for academics but also for support and a sense of community.

“This program is more than a scholarship that covers college costs,” Peterson said. “The relationships Scholars form with each other, mentors and faculty make it so they don’t have to get through college alone.”

For more information on the STEM Scholars program and to find out if you are eligible to apply, visit the BSU STEM Scholars page.