Hawai‘i Pacific University receives $1.2M for STEM education scholarships

Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU) has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This support will enable students in HPU’s College of Natural and Computational Sciences (CNCS) who are passionate about teaching STEM subjects to make a difference in underrepresented and high-need schools across the country.

“We are extremely grateful for this grant and our vibrant partnership with the Hawai‘i Department of Education that makes this program possible,” said Dr. Jennifer Walsh, HPU’s senior vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Chief Strategy Officer. “The Noyce scholarship funds will allow us to expand our recruitment and preparation of talented STEM educators who can inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators, thereby positively benefiting our local communities for years to come.”

The grant will provide scholarships to 12 HPU students, selected during their junior year, $18,000 annually throughout their undergraduate and master’s studies, as well as teacher internship training. In exchange, they will commit to teaching in a high-need school for two years for each year of support received. Additionally, students will attend regional and national conferences annually as part of their professional development as Noyce scholars. 

“At the moment, the STEM field is highly specialized, and professionals in this area are rarely encouraged to become K-12 educators,” said HPU Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator (PI) of the grant Dr. Eugene Guillian. “This grant seeks to change that by educating new teachers sensitive to the underrepresentation in STEM. There is a huge social side to this—environmental, identity building—that we aim to address with this grant.”

The Noyce grant encourages university students to see a future in STEM beyond research roles. Their university coursework will emphasize identity development and the importance of social factors that prevent participation from underrepresented groups.

Guillian, who earned his bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and his doctorate in physics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, decided later to pursue his long-held interest in advancing STEM education in secondary schools. After training at HPU, Guillian gained hands-on experience as a chemistry and physics instructor at Roosevelt and McKinley High Schools in Honolulu. He earned his Hawai‘i State Teaching License in 2010 and went on to teach a range of physics courses at Maryknoll High School, where he also developed an aeronautics and engineering course and led the robotics team. Additionally, Guillian planned and implemented summer STEM programs for younger students, underscoring his commitment to fostering STEM education at all levels. 

Reflecting on his own experience, Guillian noted the pressure STEM graduates often face to pursue research roles instead of teaching. “What prevented me from going into teaching early on was the expectation to go into research,” he said. “I had to suppress my passion for teaching high school to meet the expectations of becoming a researcher. That wasn’t what motivated me. We need to find more people who are passionate about teaching while studying as STEM majors.”

The Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program at HPU includes partnerships with several high-need school districts in Hawai‘i, such as McKinley and Farrington high schools, and Washington and Kalākaua Middle Schools. These schools will play a crucial role in providing teacher training for the Noyce Scholars, helping to develop a new generation of educators who can inspire and mentor students in STEM fields. The program also aims to strengthen ties with these public schools, ensuring that future generations have the mentors and resources they need to succeed.

The first group of HPU Noyce Scholars will be selected in fall 2024, with additional cohorts of at least four students each to follow in 2025 and 2026. This program represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of STEM education in high-need schools. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, contact Guillian at eguillian@hpu.edu and take the first step toward making a difference in the field of education.