Dr. Shawanda Thomas is the STEM Director at Lawson State. Reach out to her with any questions.
Dr. Shawanda Thomas
STEM Director
Email: sthomas@lawsonstate.edu
Phone: 205-929-3443
Welcome to Lawson State STEM! Expand your horizons in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by applying to one of Lawson State STEM's high-impact programs for middle school, high school, and college students.
We prepare students to lead, discover, and innovate in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through hands-on learning, research, college and career preparation, and mentorship.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It's an interdisciplinary approach to learning that integrates these fields to equip students with essential skills for a technology-driven future. STEM education emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, preparing students for complex challenges and future careers.
Now more than ever, there is a need to establish programs that better position the current and next-generation STEM workforce. The STEM Program at Lawson State Community College provides several opportunities designed to increase participants' awareness of STEM fields and/or increase interested students' motivation to persist in the STEM fields. Lawson State is known for hosting on-campus STEM activities for middle school, high school, and college students including:
The core values of the STEM program are research, integrity, service, and excellence. STEM undergraduates who are accepted into the STEM program are known as STEM scholars. STEM scholars meet regularly throughout the year, network with STEM professionals, present research, receive awards and scholarships, attend national conferences, and receive invaluable information to develop them academically and professionally.
The program is generously supported by the mainly through the I-RISE grant (Award #2413069), and other STEM funding.
The STEM Scholars Program at Samford University is designed for academically gifted transfer students who are committed to a career in STEM and need financial assistance to complete their degrees. As a result of the partnership between Lawson State's STEM Scholars Program and Samford University's STEM Scholars Program, more than 10 Lawson State students have successfully transferred into Samford University's STEM Scholars program on an NSF S-STEM scholarship.
Dr. Shawanda Thomas is the STEM Director at Lawson State. Reach out to her with any questions.
Dr. Shawanda Thomas
STEM Director
Email: sthomas@lawsonstate.edu
Phone: 205-929-3443
