Academy Expands Afterschool Mentoring Program
Infosys USA Foundation grant enables afterschool science mentoring at Citizen Schools in New Jersey.
Published December 13, 2011
By Diana Friedman
The Infosys USA Foundation expanded its challenge grant to The New York Academy of Sciences Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program to include Citizen Schools in New Jersey. The Infosys USA Foundation has provided $380,000 in cumulative grants to give more students the opportunity to improve their science and math skills.
The partnership between the Infosys USA Foundation and the Academy supports the Academy’s K-12 Science Education Initiative that provides academic mentoring by young scientists to underserved students. The program’s goal is to ensure that students have an opportunity to explore science, math and technology in ways that will encourage higher achievement in the classroom and in testing outcomes.
“Infosys is committed to providing opportunities for students to improve their math and science skills,” said Ashok Vemuri, Head of Americas, Global Head, Financial Services & Insurance and Board Member of Infosys. “The Academy offers a valuable STEM education program that encourages learning in a fun environment. We are pleased to extend the program’s reach to students in New Jersey. I am proud of our Infosys colleagues who volunteer their time and skills.”
Surpassing Goals
In the first year of the program, the Academy has surpassed its program goals by placing more than 120 mentors in 84 after-school and summer programs across all five boroughs of New York City, serving more than 2,100 elementary and middle school children. Together, these mentors provided more than 3,120 hours of high quality, educational activities, inspiring the city’s most underserved children and encouraging confidence to pursue their talents in science and math.
“Citizen Schools and our students in Newark are deeply grateful for the leadership of the Academy and Infosys. Their volunteers have helped many students build skills in the critical areas of genetics, space science, earth science and math. Our partnerships with the Academy and Infosys give Newark’s students, parents and educators the confidence that we can make a real and inspirational difference through science and math education,” said Mohan Sivaloganathan, Director of Development and Civic Engagement of Citizen Schools New Jersey.
Based on the achievements of the STEM Mentoring Program in New York City, the Academy believes that with the support of Citizen Schools, it can scale this model to impact science education in New Jersey.
Through additional funding support from the Infosys USA Foundation, the Academy aims to recruit, train and support 30 new mentors in the 2011-2012 school year for the New Jersey-based science education program. The program will provide 180 hours of hands-on activities for 450 students in the fourth through eighth grades in an afterschool setting, as well as extend Academy membership to at least 300 New Jersey teachers.
