Communities

The sweep of HSTA's impact begins in our very own communities. Our students help their neighborhoods, towns, and cities address health and wellness issues that are common in many rural areas of the United States. They go on to earn college degrees in a wide range of science, engineering, technology, and math fields, and after graduation, more than 80 percent stay in West Virginia to live and work in the communities that supported them. HSTA also brings more than a half million federal grant dollars into the state each year, and the livelihoods our former students earn translate into a 2-to-1 return on state funds invested in the program.

HSTA's greatest and most critical impact is on our students. Participants blossom in a rich environment of mentoring, social support, academic challenge, and community involvement, and they gain the confidence and capabilities they need to succeed in higher education. HSTA students work hard. They support each other. They give back to their communities. And they make the most of the opportunity the program provides: to leave high school academically, socially, and financially prepared to earn a degree and pursue a STEM+M career.

Colleges and Universities

The West Virginia colleges and universities that support HSTA benefit in myriad ways. They play a pivotal role in improving STEM+M education across the state. They recruit students who are highly likely to graduate. They increase diversity on their campuses. They form closer relationships with West Virginia communities. They work with a wide range of researchers examining the unique needs of our state. They receive diversified grant funding. And they help West Virginia students access and succeed in health, allied health, and other important STEM+M workforce pipelines.