Future doctors, physicists, geologists and others collected donations Saturday for Durango-area nonprofits in a show of gratitude for a federal program that helped them succeed at Fort Lewis College.
The students are members of the STEM³ program, which provides assistance to first-generation students, low-income students or students with disabilities. They study science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) at FLC and receive scholarships, monitoring and free tutoring through a federally funded program called TRIO.
On Saturday, they collected donations for iAM Music Institute, Manna Soup Kitchen and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4031 in Durango. The service project is done once a year as part of National TRIO Day.
Elena Mylroie, who saw her grade-point average drop as a result of seizures, said the STEM³ program connected her with advisers who helped her build a class schedule that would improve her GPA and figure out which tests she needed to take in order to continue her education in biochemistry.
“The tutoring part of the program has been very helpful,” Mylroie said Saturday while collecting donations for Manna Soup Kitchen at Chapman Hill.
Geology major Kevin Fox, who expects to be the first in his family to graduate from college, said parents of first-generation students often don’t know anything about the college experience or applying for scholarships. STEM³ mentors can help students who may feel overwhelmed, he said. The relatively small size of FLC, about 4,000 students, also means students can get the extra attention they need, he said.
“I have relationships with my professors, and you’re not going to get that anywhere else that is larger than 10,000 (students) because they just don’t have the time,” Fox said.
FLC has about 120 students enrolled in the STEM³ program.
Michael Minkler, who was collecting donations and household items for the VFW on Saturday, said he enrolled with STEM³ about 1½ years ago. Now he gives back to the program by monitoring 10 to 12 students. He is working on a book that will help his replacement keep the monitoring program going once he graduates.
He offered this advice to students struggling with the college experience: “Take advantage of all the opportunities you have,” he said. “Get involved. See what’s out there. Talk to your professors.”
Anne Perry, who is studying psychology, criminology and forensics, said she meets all three of STEM’s requirements. She was collecting instruments or cash donations for iAm Music Institute, which helps underprivileged children obtain musical instruments.
As a child, Perry said she wasn’t into sports, but playing in her school orchestra was a creative outlet.
“It gives you a positive outlook, and it also helps you grow as a person,” she said. “It teaches you to be patient about something.”
She added: “If it wasn’t for STEM, I probably would have failed a number of classes, and I don’t know that I would still be at the Fort, honestly.”
The students collected a box of food for Manna, household items for veterans and three instruments worth $600 to $800 for children who can’t afford them.
shane@durangoherald.com
