NextGen STEM Fellowship's Impact on Students
For Colorado Mesa University engineering student Abraham Avila, the NextGen STEM Fellowship has been a game-changer.
The NextGen STEM Fellowship is a prestigious program designed to provide CMU engineering students with valuable internship experience and financial support. Avila's story exemplifies the incredible benefits and opportunities this fellowship offers to aspiring STEM professionals.
Originally from Aspen, Colorado, Avila’s journey to CMU was marked by determination and self-discovery. After completing his associate degree at Colorado Mountain College, he briefly attended the University of Colorado Denver in pursuit of an architecture degree. However, he soon realized that his passion was elsewhere, leading him to transfer to CMU and change his major to computer science with an emphasis in cybersecurity and data science.
Avila’s decision to choose CMU was influenced by several factors, including its proximity to his hometown, cost-effectiveness and a pivotal encounter with CMU Associate Professor of Computer Science Karl Castleton, who introduced him to the world of computer science.
Avila’s journey into the NextGen STEM Fellowship began last semester when he received a mass email from the engineering department. The email announced NextGen was offering an internship opportunity in collaboration with J.G. Management Systems, a government service company specializing in applied engineering, technology and science. Intrigued by the opportunity, Avila decided to apply for the internship and was accepted.
“This internship is kind of priceless. It's a lot of life lessons for sure, not just work. It's mainly teaching you how to understand how people work, how the industry works, how the workflow works and how the company works,” said Avila.
This internship is kind of priceless. It's a lot of life lessons for sure, not just work. It's mainly teaching you how to understand how people work, how the industry works, how the workflow works and how the company works. - Avila
In addition to the hands-on experience, the fellowship offers financial reimbursement for various expenses, ensuring that students can fully immerse themselves in the internship without worrying about financial constraints. This financial support extends to rent, clothing and other essential expenses.
Director of CMU-CU Boulder Engineering Partnership Programs Nathan McNeill, PhD, emphasized the program's inclusivity, stating, “The program aims to provide opportunities to underrepresented communities in STEM education and encourages students to apply.”
Students majoring in computer science and engineering are encouraged to apply for any of the open summer internship positions, including cybersecurity, engineering, engineering assessor and software engineering.
Avila's story serves as an inspiration for other students considering pursuing STEM fields at CMU. The NextGen STEM Fellowship, with its transformative opportunities and unwavering support, underscores the university's commitment to empowering the next generation of STEM professionals. As CMU continues to invest in programs like this, more students will have the chance to turn their dreams into reality and embark on transformative journeys of their own.
“It’s been nothing but a joy,” said Avila. “This was one of the best experiences I’ve had, and I wish to do another internship somewhere down the line.”