2019 Castillo and AAAG STEM Scholarships: High School Seniors Apply by 5/15

May 3, 2019

By Karl Clarke

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From left, 2018 AAAG STEM Scholar Duardo Akerele, 2018 Vincent J. Castillo STEM Scholar Erika Patterson, and 2018 Vincent J. Castillo STEM Scholar Michael Washington.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Vincent J. Castillo STEM Scholarship and the African-American Advancement Group (AAAG) STEM Scholarship, both sponsored by the AAAG. The scholarships each award up to $1,000 to high school seniors intending to pursue science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) studies in college and who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership ability, and a commitment to community service. 

The AAAG STEM Scholarship awards several $1,000 to high school seniors of African American heritage residing in Suffolk County. The Vincent J. Castillo STEM Scholarship awards $1,000 to a high school senior of African, West Indian, or Hispanic descent who is a U.S. citizen residing in Suffolk County. Children and other relatives of Brookhaven Lab employees are encouraged to apply. 

Vincent Castillo, who worked in the Physics and Collider-Accelerator departments at Brookhaven Lab for 35 years, was an active participant in the Lab's college internship program as a mentor and in other diversity initiatives. Throughout his life he promoted opportunities for underrepresented minorities in the sciences. His namesake award is supported through a partnership by AAAG with his daughters Tara and Jerri.

Duardo Akerele is a 2018 recipient of the AAAG STEM Scholarship, and attributes the accolade with helping him determine his course of study and career goals.

“I firmly believe upon receiving the AAAG scholarship my position as an aspiring engineer became all the more apparent,” he said. Akerele, a 2018 graduate of Half Hollow Hills High School East, is now enrolled at New York University.

Applications must be emailed or postmarked by May 15, 2019. Winners will be notified June 14, 2019, and later this year will be invited to Brookhaven Lab for an awards ceremony and presentation.

For more information and to download the application and cover letter guidelines, visit the AAAG website, or contact Juanita McKinney at Ext. 3915 or mckinney@bnl.gov.
 

2019-15532  |  INT/EXT  |  Newsroom