ALLIANCE/MERCK CIENCIA (SCIENCE) HISPANIC SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The Alliance/Merck Ciencia (Science) Hispanic Scholars Program is a pioneering partnership with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance) dedicated to supporting a new generation of Hispanic scientists.  Providing scholarship, summer research experiences, and the support of an extraordinary network of mentors, the effort is expanding Hispanic student access to higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).  Launched in 2008 with a $4 million commitment from The Merck Foundation, Ciencia is ensuring that Hispanic students with promise for study in the STEM fields are receiving the support they deserve to realize their dreams. 
Between 2009 and 2013, high schools and Alliance member community organizations and scientists in Brownsville, Texas; Elizabeth, New Jersey; and Los Angeles, California, partnered to select annually a class of 10 Ciencia Scholars drawn from among high school seniors who have demonstrated promise for STEM study. Selected Scholars received support of up to $20,000 in scholarships over their four years of college, up to $22,500 to support summer research opportunities, and the mentorship and support of the Alliance Ciencia network of some of the nation’s leading scientific minds. The community of Scholars numbers fifty, with 2013 seeing the first class of Ciencia Scholars graduate and become the first group of Ciencia alumni.

The NAHH/Merck partnership also included the awarding each year of the Ciencia National Scholarships to Hispanic college students with a declared STEM major from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories and Puerto Rico. The program awarded a $2,000 onetime scholarship to help students with a demonstrated commitment and promise in their fields to complete their education. The program awarded 125 Ciencia National Scholarships.