WeHa University, Hartford Nonprofit Forge Female STEM Initiative

University of Saint Joseph

WEST HARTFORD/HARTFORD, CT — A West Hartford university and a Hartford nonprofit have teamed up for a joint program that aims to help young women of color enter the STEM fields.

The University of Saint Joseph and the Hartford-based nonprofit Girls For Technology, Inc. (GFT) recently announced the creation of the "The Girls For Technology Independent Scholar Award."

GFT develops programs to mobilize women of color by providing "crucial training, resources, and support to build wealth through tech, entrepreneurship, and leadership," according to USJ.

Founded in 2015, GFT has served 3,000 girls through its K-12 youth initiative, which offers an immersive, hands-on, after-school educational program to help students of color in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

"GFT and USJ share common goals to enhance education and Connecticut workforce opportunities and nurture the talents of students, especially females in STEM fields,” said Kimberly M. Crone, vice president for enrollment at USJ. “Our common missions to enhance education opportunities and nurture the talents of Connecticut students make this partnership very special.”

The new program will provide GFT students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher up to $5,000 per academic year, with a maximum of $20,000 total over eight semesters/four years.

The award is available to all eligible first-year GFT students at the time of admission to USJ, starting in fall 2024.

“I am excited about our partnership with the University of Saint Joseph,” said Sabrina Tucker-Barrett, co-founder, president, and chief executive officer of Girls For Technology. “This collaboration introduces the Girls For Technology Independent Scholar Award, symbolizing a significant leap towards educational empowerment for young women in STEM."

For more information on the partnership, click on this link.