WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $999,152 in federal funding to expand student access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs at Towson University.

“We’re proud to announce this important new investment in Maryland’s STEM education capabilities,” the lawmakers said. “Recruiting and mentoring a more diverse pipeline of students will help drive greater opportunity and economic success for communities throughout our state. We are committed to expanding access to higher education and supporting research institutions throughout Maryland.”

Funding comes from the National Science Foundation. It will support Towson University’s “Recruiting, Educating and Graduating a Diverse Community of Mathematicians Through Mentoring, Peer Support and Undergraduate Research” program, which provides dozens of mathematics scholarships to high-achieving, low-income students.

The award will fund 14 four-year scholarships for graduating seniors from high schools across Baltimore, as well as 18 two-year scholarships for transfer students from Harford Community College and Howard Community College. The award will also allow Towson University to expand undergraduate research opportunities for all sophomore and junior mathematics majors.

The lawmakers have long supported investments in STEM education programs across the state. They previously announced funding for Morgan State University to increase underrepresented community representation in engineering, to expand nanotechnology research and training at the University of Maryland, College Park, and more than $1.6 million for Johns Hopkins University STEM programs.