We’re excited to announce the launch of our new STEM Transfer Pilot Program with support from the Genentech Foundation. This rollout phase focuses on supporting 150 Bay Area-based first-generation students for a full academic year as they plan their transfer from community college to a four-year institution in the fall of 2026. First-generation STEM students can apply to join the program by June 30, 2025. 

In 2022, ScholarMatch was selected as one of 31 groundbreaking projects to receive a three-year planning grant from the Genentech Foundation as part of Genentech’s Health Equity and Diversity in STEM Innovation Fund. “This grant has allowed us to research, plan, and finally launch our STEM Transfer Pilot Program this year, which will help many community college students prepare to transfer to four-year institutions while pursuing STEM pathways,” added ScholarMatch’s Executive Director Karla V. Salazar. 

The community college transfer pathway can be challenging for many first-generation students in STEM due to a number of obstacles that include:

• Navigating unclear and evolving STEM transfer requirements
• Managing multiple financial barriers
• Balancing family and school responsibilities

Compounding these obstacles, community colleges often have limited advising capacity, even in specialized programs like MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement), which specifically target first-generation students in STEM fields. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, these mounting barriers have contributed to the troubling fact that 48% of STEM students ultimately leave their intended major, with 28% switching to non-STEM majors and 20% dropping out of college entirely. 

With that in mind, our STEM Transfer Pilot Program will focus on addressing the gaps that community college students currently encounter. Through tailored 1:1 support from coaches and multiple online resources designed for transfer students, students in our program will be able to bridge the gaps to successfully transfer and complete their STEM degrees.

The demand for STEM professionals is rapidly growing due to technological advancements and globalization. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023, nearly 11 million people were employed in STEM occupations across the country. This growth is expected to continue, with projections indicating a significant increase in STEM job openings in the coming years. 

Meeting this growing demand requires intentional investment in diverse talent. That’s why we are proud to partner with Genentech to cultivate the next generation of STEM scholars and foster a more diverse pipeline of healthcare and science professionals. We believe that opportunities like these help equip first-generation students to become leaders in their fields, pay it forward to other scholars, and contribute to the fabric of our society.

ScholarMatch alum Ambrocio Sanchez Pineda, who graduated in 2021 and is now a fourth-year Ph.D. student in biochemistry, is focused on contributing to his community as his career evolves. He recently returned to his high school to mentor other first-generation students like him as they consider future career paths.

“I want more first-generation students to know that being a scientist is a viable career option. Ultimately, my goal is to establish myself as a scientist, set up a lab, work at a university, become a professor, and teach the upcoming generations of scientists [and even] start a program where I can train young undergraduates, of minority low-income backgrounds like myself," he says.

Learn more about our new program and how you can help us make a difference for future generations at scholarmatch.org.