TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy Encourages Enrollment in STEM programs  

While many students spend their summers relaxing or participating in internships, others take the time to work on their academic development through summer courses. This year, 50 incoming college students are participating in a summer program designed to propel their STEM education.   

TC Energy is proud to partner with the University of Houston to support the development of a pipeline of diverse talent for the workforce of tomorrow through the TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy.     

TC Energy and the TC Energy Foundation donated US$50,000 to the University of Houston’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) to support a summer program that enables high school students interested in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) majors to prepare for the transition to college. The intensive, nine-week program, TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy, kicked off on June 9 and provides support to 50 students, many of whom are the first generation in their family to attend college.  

The TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy recruits outstanding high school students interested in STEM majors but who have SAT scores indicating they may not be math-ready for entry into their program of choice. The program provides students an opportunity to earn Calculus I credit and ensures they are both math-ready and college-ready as they enter their chosen degree programs in the fall.   

“The students invited to participate are really good students, but their academic preparation may not have been rigorous enough to get them ready for what is going to come at them in college-level STEM courses,” said Donna Pattison, NSM Assistant Dean for Student Success. Special attention is paid during the recruiting process to reach out to students from low-performing high schools.     

“This program brings together the coursework, technology and sense of community that is essential for these students to succeed,” Pattison said.      

The donation provides scholarships and technology needed for online learning, as the program will be conducted virtually due to COVID-19. During the program, students will participate in workshops and panel discussions led by Talent Acquisition and Student Program teams to learn soft skills and answer career and industry questions. In the fall, participants will also receive ongoing support through NSM’s Scholar Enrichment Program which includes cooperative learning groups, tutoring and workshops for STEM courses.