UNO’s NE STEM 4U Program Receives INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine’s 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award

Today, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s NE STEM 4U Program received the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.

The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). UNO will be featured in the September 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Inspiring Programs in STEM Award winners were selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives.

A.T. Miller, Ph.D., UNO’s Chief Diversity Officer celebrated the recognition. “I am deeply impressed by the many existing resources that not only advance DEAI efforts on the UNO campus but reach into the community to create the pipelines that will define the future of higher education in our metropolitan area,” Miller said. “The STEM TRAIL Center is transforming the fields toward full participation and unleashing the potential for much greater excellence in STEM across the board. This kind of outreach and collaboration is exceptional and should be recognized and shared nationally!”

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected UNO’s NE STEM 4U Program because of its steadfast contribution to serving the broader community through active engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning. The program partners with schools that are under resourced in staffing, active engagement, and quality programming in STEM areas. It relies on collaboration between the university, K-12 partners, and non-profit partners to make the program a success.

Since its inception in 2012, the program has expanded access in the STEM pipeline, creating pathways and opportunities for nearly 8,000 youth and mentorship opportunities for 200 undergraduate students who are persons of races or ethnicities that are often underrepresented in the field.

Within its design, the mutually beneficial nature of the program helps UNO retain more students in STEM through graduation while fostering curiosity and interest in STEM career pathways among youth. Previously published research on the program identified gains in STEM content knowledge, improved achievement in STEM areas among underprivileged youth, and overall advancement in fostering communitywide curiosity, inquiry, and scientific thinking.

Furthermore, undergraduate students serving as mentors in the program have been shown to outperform their peers in critical thinking with the program having a 97% retention rate to graduation, notably higher than the national average of 40-60%.

“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, said. “We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”

For more information about the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award and INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, visit insightintodiversity.com.