In partnership with The American Chemistry Council (ACC), Chemours, and HBCU Week Foundation, the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) was established in November 2020 with the goal of helping to combat the lack of diversity in the STEM workforce. FOSSI provides scholarship recipients $10,000 per year for four years, helping to eliminate financial barriers for historically under-represented groups.
On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) delivered a warm welcome to 131 new FOSSI scholars during a virtual celebration that brought together students, families, friends, and corporate partners from across the country.
FOSSI‘s 2025 welcome event
The program opened with remarks from Mark Costa, Chairman & CEO of Eastman and Chair of the FOSSI Advisory Board, who encouraged students to stay open-minded and embrace the opportunities ahead. Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, followed with a powerful reminder: “You were handpicked to be here. You deserve to be here.”
Scholars also heard from Adrienne Blanks, FOSSI’s Manager of Scholar Engagement and Education, who outlined the program’s benefits and expectations, including mentorship, internships, and professional development. A panel of recent graduates shared their own journeys and offered practical advice on navigating challenges, finding balance, and making the most of the mentoring experience.
AIChE Interim CEO Victor Bohnert closed the celebration with an inspiring message, encouraging FOSSI scholars to focus on the work at hand while keeping an eye on future opportunities.
FOSSI’s continued success
With the addition of the 2025 class, FOSSI continues to expand its national impact, supporting more than 860 scholars from 33 states at 47 HBCUs. Since its launch, the program has awarded $40,000 scholarships to each FOSSI scholar over four years, raised more than $40 million, and attracted over 5,000 applications from talented students. Learn more about FOSSI's 2025 class.
Companies not yet supporting FOSSI are invited to build their pipeline of diverse talent by sponsoring a scholar.
Future FOSSI scholars, your journey starts now. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2026.
