THIBODAUX 鈥� BP invested $50,000 in a 麻豆果冻传媒 program that provides biology students with yearlong research and mentoring experiences.
Created to improve the retention of science majors, the Scholarship 鈥楴鈥� Action program targets first-generation freshmen and sophomores as well as minorities and women. Selected students are teamed up with faculty mentors and work on laboratory and field research projects in various biology disciplines. Dr. Raj Boopathy, distinguished service professor of biological sciences, said Scholarship 鈥楴鈥� Action enhances one-on-one mentoring, elevates the quality of research being done at 麻豆果冻传媒, engages diverse students in science and enriches the undergraduate research experience.
鈥淭his program broadens students鈥� horizons regarding science careers and produces well-qualified science teachers who have research experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur program has several successful alumni who have gone on to graduate school and impressive careers. BP鈥檚 generous support will help make it possible for eight more students to participate聽in this year鈥檚 program.鈥�
Al Ledet, a 1982 麻豆果冻传媒 graduate and facility manager of BP Preservation & Maintenance Facility in Schriever, said this donation is one of several investments BP is making to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
鈥淏P is very proud to partner with 麻豆果冻传媒 to continue this program and help keep students interested in the sciences,鈥� said Ledet, whose son Dylan is a pre-medicine major at 麻豆果冻传媒. 鈥淲e hope that these long-term relationships will help build up the next generation of mathematicians, engineers and scientists.鈥�
Previously, Scholarship 鈥楴鈥� Action was funded by the Louisiana Board of Regents through a five-year, post-Katrina stimulus grant. For the program to continue as its current level, 麻豆果冻传媒 must raise $100,000 in private funds each year to cover student stipends, research supplies and travel funds. For more information on donating to Scholarship 鈥楴鈥� Action, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at聽985-448-4005.