Boston Bridges Initiative & WPI Offer Scholarships to Boston Residents

Boston Bridges Initiative (BBI), a not-for-profit organization seeking to build meaningful cross-racial relationships within and between suburban and urban communities in the Greater Boston area, is partnering with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to offer scholarships to Boston residents for WPI’s premier two-week residential summer STEM-exploration program.

Rising 10th, 11th and 12th graders have an opportunity to participate in WPI’s Frontiers program at no charge, courtesy of WPI, Boston Bridges Initiative, and its Mark Thomas Scholarship Fund.

“Mark Thomas was a leader in international business and an executive in the technology sector who strongly believed in diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Kimberley Anderson, President and Executive Director, Boston Bridges Initiative. “Mark was a founding supporter of our organization who passed away far too young in 2021. We are honoring him with the launch of a scholarship in his name to allow teens in underserved communities in the Greater Boston area to attend STEM programs for free.”

Frontiers, which has been offered by WPI for more than 40 years, is a residential, overnight program for students who want to explore STEM through a collegiate lens and prepare for their own collegiate journey. Students are challenged to stretch the outer limits of their knowledge in STEM and explore unsolved global issues, along with humanities, business entrepreneurship, psychology, and more. The program runs two sessions each summer; this year Frontiers I runs July 9 through 21 and Frontiers II runs July 23 through August 4.

“Our Frontiers summer program allows high school students to delve into a variety of STEM activities, including robotics, biology, chemistry, and computer science, while making both friends and memories,” said Dr. Tony Laing, Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at WPI. “We are excited to partner with Boston Bridges Initiative to allow teens to access this program that haven’t been able due to the cost in past years. This scholarship will open a world of opportunities and a taste of college life that could change their future.”

For the pilot year 2023, only students enrolled in Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) Districts are eligible. In subsequent years, students from schools in Boston such as John D. O’Bryant, Latin School, Latin Academy, and Charter Schools, etc. will be eligible to apply. At the time of the application submission, students will be asked to indicate the METCO district or Boston school they attend and will automatically be considered for the Mark Thomas Scholarship.

Recipients of the Mark Thomas Scholarship will receive full tuition, normally $3,595, to attend WPI’s two-week residential Frontiers summer program. To apply go to here. Applications are due April 30 and are reviewed on a rolling basis.

WPI also offers tuition assistance to students participating in other summer programs; additional information is here.