Stem Advantage
PROGRAMS
Advancing Economic Mobility through STEM Career Pathways
Our holistic program for STEM Advantage Scholars includes: • 1-to-1 Career support to strengthen skills and gain confidence to secure internships and entry-level jobs • 1-to-1 Mentors (STEM professionals) to provide role models, support, guidance, and coaching • Professional and career development to prepare for their job search • Scholarships to attend classes full-time and graduate with less student debt, and • Community, including a sense of belonging, support, and opportunities to build their network. We select 125 Scholars in each cohort and support multiple cohorts concurrently. We serve students from their sophomore year through college graduation, and then beyond as part of our Alumni program (840 alumni) which includes career development and networking opportunities to advance their career, build their network and community. Our Freshmen STEM Career Pathways program engages first-year college students, provides exposure to STEM career opportunities, drives persistence in a STEM major, and serves as a pipeline to our Scholars program. Partnerships Partnerships and collaboration are key to our success. Leading companies, including ADP, Deloitte, Farmers, Google, Qualcomm, Reddit, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Trade Desk, and U.S. Bank, provide funding and paid internships, support career programs, engage employees to be mentors and participate on career panels, and hire graduates. Professional and industry organization partners include Southern California Society for Information Management (SCSIM) and Women in Technology Hollywood. We have partnerships to help Scholars develop their technical skills, including CodePath to prepare for technical coding interviews, UCLA Extension’s Data Science Certificate program, Break Through Tech to gain skills in machine learning and AI, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host immersive, in-person workshops to apply Amazon’s Working Backwards innovation process to develop GenAI-powered solutions with real-world business applications. Plus, we have liaisons at each California State University campus we serve and an Ambassadors program.
“The best thing I have done for my future, by far, was apply for the STEM Advantage program. “
- Sirena, Computer Science major, Cal State Fullerton
Since we were founded in 2012:
• 100% of Scholars earned a Bachelor’s degree
• 100% of Scholars persisted in a STEM field
• 100% were paired 1-to-1 with a mentor who is a STEM professional
• 90% secured a paid internship, research project or other summer experience related to their major
• 90% of graduating seniors secured a job offer within 4 months of graduation or enrolled in graduate school
Scholars say our STEM Advantage Scholars program is “life-changing” and empowering with a ripple effect:
1) Preparing first-generation, low-income, and underserved students for STEM jobs that pay more, on average, than non-STEM jobs.
2) Scholars earn $75,000 average starting salary, a sustainable middle-class living wage (400% increase over pre-program salary). They can save and invest, afford to live in California, buy a home, and build wealth.
3) Alumni “pay it forward” as role models and mentors for siblings and younger students. If they can see it, they can be it!
4) Children of alumni will grow up with exposure to and support for college and other career options.
5) This results in a generational impact and clear path to narrow the gender and racial wealth gaps creating financial security for families and redefining the narrative.
STEM Advantage Scholars are tracking to earn more than $2 million more in their lifetime post-program.
CONTACT
Stem Advantage
117 22nd Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Lee Ann Kline
Phone: 9493223320