SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Wittenberg University and Clark State Community College are among eight Miami Valley institutions now accepting applications for Choose Ohio First Scholarships — part of $3.94 million in state funding for students currently in, or preparing to enter the STEMM fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.

The 1,000 available scholarships will range from $1,500 to $4,700 and will be offered through the eight-institution collaborative that also includes Wright State University as lead institution, the University of Dayton, Central State University, and Sinclair, Edison and Southern State community colleges.

The Ohio Board of Regents awarded the funding to the collaborative in June to be released this fall.

Local goals for STEMM include:

• Increase enrollment in STEMM disciplines by 10 percent or an additional 355 graduates annually.

• Form a curriculum-sharing institution.

• Develop and implement new "inquiry-based" curriculum strategies.

• Provide undergraduate research, co-op and internships to retain students to Ohio.

"Clark State has a strong history of preparing graduates to successfully enter the in-demand fields of STEMM," said Clark State president Karen Rafinski. "These scholarships will enable the college to recruit more students into the degree tracks and expand our mission to make higher education more accessible and affordable for all students."

The scholarships provide a unique opportunity for prospective Wittenberg students, said Lin Erickson, the university's director of corporate, foundation and government relations.

"For many students, the combination of the sciences with a liberal arts experience in the small intimate environment available at Wittenberg will be an ideal fit," she said.

Wittenberg is currently accepting applications for Choose Ohio First. Clark State will begin accepting applications Dec. 1.

On the Web: wittenberg.edu and clarkstate.edu.