Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today announced the availability of the New York State Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program to help students across New York State afford college tuition.

The New York State Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program provides full tuition scholarships to students who meet certain academic criteria. Students who qualify must:

• Graduate from a high school located in New York during or after the 2013-2014 school year;
• Rank in the top ten percent of their class;
• Enroll in full-time study each term beginning in the fall after her or her high school graduation in an approved undergraduate program in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics at a SUNY or CUNY college;
• Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher each term after the first semester; and
• Work full-times in a STEM field and reside in New York for five continuous years upon completion of said degree.

Application materials and additional information concerning the STEM initiative are available on the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation website at www.hesc.ny.gov.

The STEM Incentive Program is yet another investment by New York State in its students in the hope that higher education continue to become more affordable and accessible for families and children alike.