Created just four years ago in response to HMC’s strategic plan, HMC 2020: Envisioning the Future, the President’s Scholars Program is a comprehensive scholarship and professional development program for students from traditionally underrepresented groups in science and engineering.

The President’s Scholars Program at Harvey Mudd College was created to address a few important goals:

• To provide a new tool to help recruit students from traditionally underrepresented groups at the college and STEM fields in general. This embraces a wide range of students, including women, ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, and students who are the first in their families to attend college.
• To improve the college’s ability to compete with other top colleges and universities for talented students who are likely to attract high levels of financial aid because of academic merit and modest family backgrounds. Essentially, we want to take financial aid off the table as much as possible for exceptional students and their families as they consider HMC among their options.
• To help develop a diverse group of leaders for the country’s science and engineering workforce. While the STEM workforce in our country is a small fraction of the overall workforce, it has a disproportionate impact on society. Broadening STEM education will help to expand the nation’s pool of highly skilled professionals while taking advantage of the rich variety of perspectives within the population. In short, a diverse STEM workforce is a competitive advantage nationally and globally.

What Makes it Different?
The President’s Scholars Program is a hybrid, of sorts. The scholarship it offers is neither strictly a “merit scholarship,” nor a scholarship grant based solely on financial need. Students apply to be considered for the President’s Scholarship, and the students who are selected tend to have financial need. Other important qualities we look for in President’s Scholars include outstanding academic potential, demonstrated leadership, and an interest in professional development.

Along with the full-tuition scholarship, the selected students are given special encouragement to participate in academic enrichment and professional development programs, as well as pre-professional student organizations on campus. We also expect them assume leadership roles in these organizations as they mature as students.

Support the President’s Scholars
For further information about supporting the President’s Scholars Program, contact Danyel Barnard Reed, director of advancement initiatives, at danyel_barnard@hmc.edu or (909) 607-6726.