UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) will be raising money to support the Millennium Scholars Program on GivingTuesday, slated to begin at 6:55 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, and lasting through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, although early giving has already begun. 2024 marks the University’s 10th year of participating in the annual day of giving.
This year, for GivingTuesday, the college is aiming to raise funding for three additional Millennium Scholars, largely through a trio of matching gifts from EMS alumni. Anthony Hutchinson, senior vice president of industry and government relations at VantageScore, and an anonymous donor are matching $5,000. Mark Clemans, president and CEO at Carrier Energy Partners II, is matching an additional $3,500, bringing the total match to $13,500.
“We have supported EMS through traditional giving for a dedicated scholarship,” Clemans said. “GivingTuesday is a way to raise money through social media, which is where and how younger alumni are likely to support the Millennium Scholars Program. Hopefully our matching funds will lever donations to attract even more STEM-focused students to Penn State.”
The Millennium Scholars Program (MSP) began in 2013 at Penn State — EMS joined in 2016 — as a way to expand opportunities for academically talented students from underserved communities while opening doors for these students to become leaders in their chosen field. EMS has produced 21 graduates through the program, and 20 more students are currently enrolled. For more on the program, visit the Millennium Scholars homepage.
The program is already producing results: About half of the roughly 40 MSP students in EMS have gone on to graduate programs at elite universities or to roles in national labs or industry.
Delián Colón Burgos, a MSP graduate who was inspired to study severe weather events after a hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico, is a master’s degree student and graduate research assistant at the Colorado State University’s Tropical Weather and Climate research group. She credits the program with helping her get there.
“The Millennium Scholars Program played a substantial role in my development as a young atmospheric scientist, thanks to its supportive community,” Colón Burgos said. “MSP gave me the confidence and tools I need to perform impactful research in graduate school and continue to break barriers in the STEM fields.”
To learn more, visit the college’s GivingTuesday website.
Gifts to GivingTuesday advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the Commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.