Lake Erie College Awarded $425,000 Choose Ohio First Grant to Support STEM Education

The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) has awarded Lake Erie College a Choose Ohio First grant totaling $425,000 to enhance the institution’s STEM programs. This is the college’s fifth Choose Ohio First grant, aimed at expanding opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM).

The funds will support Lake Erie College’s continued success with its Choose Ohio First STEMM Scholars program, which provides scholarships to 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 Choose Ohio First program is a cornerstone of the state’s efforts to strengthen Ohio’s position in the global economy by increasing the number of skilled graduates and STEM educators. This initiative provides strategic 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.

Dr. Johnathan Tedesco, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Director of the STEMM Scholars program at Lake Erie College, expressed gratitude for the continued state investment:

“This funding allows us to maintain our momentum, further assisting students in STEM by reducing their financial burdens and providing the resources they need to thrive both academically and professionally.”

Lake Erie College’s innovative STEM programs are tailored to provide work-based learning experiences, equipping students for careers in Ohio’s growing healthcare, bioscience, and technology sectors. The demand for skilled STEM graduates remains exceptionally high in the Northeast Ohio and Cleveland areas, which are home to leading institutions and corporations requiring a highly qualified workforce.

Contact Information

For more information about the Choose Ohio First program at Lake Erie College, please contact Dr. Johnathan Tedesco at jtedesco@lec.edu.

To learn more about Lake Erie College’s STEM-related majors, scholarships, and the admission process, visit lec.edu/admission.