Providing Opportunities for Marginalized Students: The Summer Science Splash Camp’s Scholarship Program Empowers STEM Education

The Summer Science Splash Camp is a program aimed at providing STEM education to marginalized students. With the help of scholarships, low-income families can attend this camp and receive financial assistance. Currently, 32 families are benefiting from this program, accounting for one-third of all campers. The average partial scholarship amount for 2024 is $480, which covers more than half of the total cost of the camp, which is $799.

Kristen Rynerson, conference and pre-college coordinator at Eckerd College, expressed excitement about the opportunity to offer scholarships to campers. She said, “We recognize that the cost of attending an overnight residential camp like this can be high, but by offering scholarships we are able to bring this crucial STEM summer programming to students who may not have had the opportunity otherwise.”

Community Foundation Tampa Bay played a key role in making this scholarship program possible. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, their mission is to connect people and resources to create meaningful and lasting impact. They served as philanthropic partners, connectors, and advisers to support initiatives like the scholarship program for the Summer Science Splash Camp.