This summer, first-year STEM students in the Science IS-U Scholars program came to the Illinois State University campus for a six-week bridge program designed to support their transition to Illinois State and their STEM majors, build a STEM cohort community, and lay the foundation for their role as civically engaged scientists.

The Science IS-U Scholars program is co-directed by Dr. Rebekka Darner, associate professor of biological sciences/interim associate dean of the Mennonite College of Nursing, and Dr. Ben Sadd, professor of biological sciences. The program is funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Science IS-U Scholars are first-year science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors who are committed to utilizing their scientific expertise to pursue just, empathetic, and equitable solutions to societal problems. The program was designed to engage the scholars in scientific inquiry and exploration by prioritizing learning, knowledge, and discovery.

“Building community connections and getting scientists involved in civic engagement are key—not just for tackling societal issues, but also for helping the public connect with both foundational and applied science,” Sadd said.

The Science IS-U Scholars are Peyton Brewer (molecular and cellular biology), Ashlyn Cleveland (actuarial science), Daniah Corp (environmental systems science and sustainability), Gorgeous Dawson (biochemistry), Michael Housour (chemistry), Kennedy Joe (chemistry), Marcos Perez-Rodriguez (biochemistry), and RJ Williams (biology). This is the first cohort of Science IS-U Scholars. Two additional cohorts of scholars will join the program in fall 2026 and 2027.

Science IS-U summer bridge program

At the end of June, the cohort of scholars moved into Manchester Hall and started the six-week summer bridge program. There were three main components of the summer bridge program: community building, civic engagement in STEM, and the “Level-Up” Math program.

The first component was community building with Dr. Ashley Waring-Sparks, interim director of the Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (CeMaST). Waring-Sparks led the scholars in several community-building activities throughout the summer program. The scholars visited the Redbird Adventure Center and worked together to scale the high ropes course. They took a tour of campus resources and the local Bloomington–Normal community. They participated in a “Lab Crawl” to introduce them to research happening on campus and get them thinking about labs that might be a good fit for their research internships next summer. They also utilized CeMaST’s STEM Hub makerspace to make stained-glass “Motivation Mosaics.” The STEM Hub also served as a home base and meeting place for the program.

The second component of the bridge program was an interdisciplinary studies course conceptualized by Darner titled The Civically Engaged Scientist (IDS 119). During the summer, the course was adapted and taught by Dr. Kate Evans (Science IS-U program coordinator). A large part of the course consisted of service days with several organizations on campus. Scholars joined Fell Arboretum on the Quad to tag trees for identification and contribute to the virtual arboretum map. They volunteered with the Office of Sustainability to prepare donated items for the Front Yard Free Cycle event that takes place during Welcome Week. They also volunteered at the School Street Food Pantry, which provides food and personal care items to students in need. Students learned about civic projects that have been carried out and are ongoing in the Illinois State and Bloomington–Normal community from panels of local experts and had deliberative dialogues about energy choices and food security, facilitated by the Center for Civic Engagement. Throughout the course, students worked to identify social problems of interest that relate to their future careers and create a civic action plan. At the end of the bridge program, the scholars presented their civic action plans at the Summer of Inquiry Research Symposium, which also included undergraduate scholars from other Illinois State summer research programs.

The last component of the bridge program was the “Level-up” Math program with Dr. Oscar Chávez, associate professor of mathematics. The program was designed to review math concepts, develop collaboration, and build problem-solving skills. When the scholars were on campus for Preview, they took the ALEKS math placement assessment, which was then used to personalize their math preparation throughout the bridge program.

When asked to reflect on their experiences in the summer bridge program, one scholar, Daniah Corp, reported that her experiences in the bridge program with the cohort helped her acclimate to living on campus and taking college-level classes while also helping her feel more confident to start her first year at Illinois State.  

What’s next for the Science IS-U scholars?

At the end of the summer bridge program, the Science IS-U Scholars moved into their rooms on the Co-Sciences Themed Living/Learning Community floor in Hewett Hall. They will continue to live with their program peers and other STEM majors on the Co-Sciences floor for their first two years at Illinois State. During the fall and spring semesters, the scholars will continue to participate in community building and professional development and learn about research opportunities on campus. Monthly events will be held with the scholars and their peers on the Co-Sciences floor to further build community, provide timely support, build study skills, assist in career development, and address their needs and concerns. In the spring, they will work with Evans to find a research mentor for their eight-week research internship in summer 2026. During their second year, they will begin mentoring the next cohort of scholars. They will also complete the Science IS-U seminar course focused on career exploration and applying to undergraduate research experiences, graduate programs, or positions that will launch their STEM careers. In their last two years at Illinois State, they will continue to participate in community-building, professional development, and cohort-to-cohort mentoring.

The Sciences IS-U Scholars program will continue to support STEM student success, and the HHMI Success in Science grant will fund two additional cohorts of Science IS-U Scholars through the program.

“We’re excited to soon begin the search for our next cohort of scholars for fall 2026,” Sadd said. “Beyond the opportunities it provides for students, the program also gives us, as educators, a valuable chance to connect more deeply with incoming STEM students—to understand where they’re starting from and how we can best support their success.”

Applications for the fall 2026 cohort are open, and first-year students who have been admitted to an eligible STEM major will receive an email inviting them to apply to the program. For more information about the program, please visit the Science IS-U Scholars website.