S-STEM Scholars Represent Westfield State at National Conference in Washington, D.C.

Seven Westfield State University S-STEM scholars recently attended the 2026 NSF S-STEM Scholars & PI Meeting, held October 9-11 in Washington, D.C. The event brought together more than 2,000 students, faculty members, and STEM professionals from colleges and universities across the country.

The annual conference provides opportunities for scholars to participate in workshops, attend keynote presentations, explore career pathways, and network with peers and professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. For many of the Westfield State students, it was their first experience attending a scientific conference and engaging with a national community of STEM scholars.

As representatives of Westfield State University, the scholars shared information about the University’s S-STEM program and connected with students from other institutions who are pursuing similar academic and career goals. Through discussions and conference activities, they gained insights into research opportunities, graduate school pathways, professional development, and strategies for academic success.

Mason Grazia, the S-STEM scholar majoring in Environmental Science said " I thought the conference was an incredibly rewarding experience. Being able to witness so many like-minded peers all in the same place was truly worth the trip to the conference, and the beauty of DC and the incredible hospitality we were welcomed with just made the whole experience truly unforgettable."

"The conference offered valuable opportunities not only for our students, but also for educators to exchange ideas and explore ways to strengthen STEM education." Dr. Mao-Lun Weng said,  "It was especially rewarding to see our students build stronger connections with one another while fully engaging in and enjoying the conference experience.”

The students returned to campus with new ideas and perspectives that they plan to share with fellow scholars and incorporate into future S-STEM activities.

Westfield State University's Scholarship in STEM (S-STEM) program is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and provides scholarships, academic support, mentoring, and professional development opportunities to academically talented students with demonstrated financial need. The program is led by Dr. Mao-Lun Weng, Dr. Kimberly Berman, Dr. Jesse Johnson, and Dr. S Vaithee Swaran.

For more information about the S-STEM program, please contact Project PI Dr. Mao-Lun Weng at [mweng@westfield.ma.edu] or visit the https://www.westfield.ma.edu/S-STEM