The Roundtable works to effect positive change on public policy issues that are most important to supporting state economic vitality and fostering opportunity for all Washingtonians. That work includes sharing news and analyzing policy developments affecting our state.

Opportunity knocks for STEM students

From the WashACE blog this week… “Getting into one of Washington’s public universities takes a good deal of scholastic elbow grease, and, these days, a small fortune. However, an ambitious public-private scholarship program funded by Microsoft and Boeing, with matching taxpayer dollars, is giving students who focus on science, technology, engineering and math a better shot at a four-year degree. The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship provides up to $17,000 over a recipient’s four-year school experience. Boeing and Microsoft are each pitching in $25 million to kick-start the program which launched in 2011. Ultimately, the goal is to raise $1 billion for the scholarship fund by 2020, with half coming from private-sector benefactors like Microsoft, Boeing and other employers in Washington state…In our current state budget environment, a higher-ed scholarship program of this magnitude would be nearly unachievable without the generous support of private-sector employers. Our graduation caps are off to each of them!”

Get more at washace.com.

Return to News