SAC Joins the Illinois LSAMP Annual Symposium

St. Augustine College students and faculty attended the annual symposium.

This year St. Augustine College students and faculty attended the 2022 LSAMP annual symposium for students in STEM as part of the NSF (National Science Foundation) program. As a proud member of the Illinois Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ILSAMP), members of the St. Augustine community contributed with the following activities: 

  • Gabriela Carrizo participated as a Learning Assistant panelist (born and raised in Argentina, Gabriela recently interned at Microsoft with a return offer). 
  • Dr. Raul Lugo and Mr. Juvenal Nava judged oral and poster presentations.
  • Dr. German Criollo moderated breakout sessions.

Established in 1993 and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), ILSAMP is a symposium focusing on the future of STEM, making sure URM students are prepared for a promising future in a field they are passionate about. This NSF program gives students the chance to participate and make connections that can help them on the road to success.

ILSAMP comprises 8 public and private universities, 4 regional community colleges, the Field Museum, and one Federal Laboratory. This group utilizes a collaborative effort to provide programs that improve the quality of STEM education for students and prepare them for careers in the STEM field. 

The Illinois LSAMP also sponsors a “Bridge to the Doctorate” program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The mission of the “Bridge to the Doctorate” program is to assist promising URM (underrepresented minority) students who want to further their academic careers in STEM, following the mission of the NSF program to promote the progress of science with a mentorship program.

Colleagues from St. Augustine STEM programs present their findings.

The annual conference is aimed at meeting the professional development needs of ILSAMP students. This type of environment creates a community that is committed to giving students the opportunities needed to have their voices and their research heard. They get real-world experience and are prepared for national and international conferences. We are proud of our faculty and students who participated this year, and we hope to see you at the next ILSAMP NSF program to hear your brilliant ideas as part of your success story.