The Ohio Department of Higher Education has awarded Lake Erie College a Choose Ohio First grant totaling $779,000 to enhance the institution’s STEM programs. This is the Painesville-based college’s fourth Choose Ohio First grant, aimed at expanding opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine, according to a news release. The funds will support Lake Erie College’s Choose Ohio First STEMM Scholars program, which provides scholarships to underrepresented students pursuing STEMM degrees. Since 2022, the program has financially supported 59 Lake Erie students, helping to remove barriers to higher education and fostering academic success in fields critical to Ohio’s workforce, the release stated. The Choose Ohio First program is part of the state’s efforts to strengthen Ohio’s position in the STEM fields by increasing the number of skilled graduates and STEM educators. This initiative provides funding to colleges and universities across the state to offer scholarships to students seeking certificates, associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees in eligible STEM fields. “The ongoing support of the Choose Ohio First program means more Lake Erie College students have the opportunity to prepare for a successful future in their chosen STEM program,” Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey stated in the release. “This latest award shows Lake Erie’s commitment to providing skilled workers in numerous high-demand fields, including education, data science, and healthcare.” Dr. Johnathan Tedesco, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and director of the STEMM Scholars program at Lake Erie, expressed gratitude for the grant. “This additional funding will allow us to further assist underrepresented students in STEM, reducing their financial burdens and providing the resources they need to thrive academically and professionally,” he stated in the release. Lake Erie’s STEM programs are designed to provide work-based learning experiences and equip students for careers in Ohio’s growing healthcare, bioscience, and technology sectors. The demand for skilled STEM graduates is particularly high in the Cleveland area, home to leading institutions and corporations in need of a qualified workforce, according to the release.