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The basics:

• Johnson & Johnson donates $100K to Stevens ACES program
• Gift funds summer STEM education for 30 high schoolers
• ACES has provided 286 pre-college scholarships since 2018
• Students from under-resourced communities receive mentorship, hands-on learning and more

Johnson & Johnson has donated $100,000 to Stevens Institute of Technology to support the Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science program.

ACES launched in 2017. The initiative aims to streamline pathways to higher education in STEM for talented students from under-resourced communities.

The Hoboken university program partners with 18 high schools in New Jersey and New York to identify and enroll qualified candidates to participate. The rigorous summer pre-college and year-round programming focuses on college readiness, career exploration as well as science, technology, engineering and math enrichment.

The students receive scholarship funding to take part in the programs. The series includes mentorship and hands-on learning through career workshops, internships, college application support and more.

Students will also have the opportunity to participate in other extracurricular activities and engage with Stevens faculty and peers, as well as take advantage of the Pre-College Summer Residential Program.

Key things to know about ACES:

• Program has provided 286 pre-college scholarships since 2018
• In 2024, it disseminated 78 scholarships and also boasted  a record 93 summer students from participating high schools
• Provides 10 undergraduate scholarships a year for qualifying students
• Graduates achieve an average 3.4 GPA or better
• Johnson & Johnson’s donation will fund the participation of up to 30 students during the summers of 2025 and 2026

Building a talent pipeline

“As a New Jersey-based company focused on health care innovation, Johnson & Johnson is proud to support the Stevens ACES program,” Chris Guiton, head of New Jersey initiatives for New Brunswick-headquartered J&J, said in the July 8 announcement. “We know firsthand the positive impact that STEM and college readiness programs have on our local students and communities.

“We have a responsibility to support them by providing greater access to education and opportunity so that we continue building a strong, thriving pipeline of talent in our industry and beyond.”

We know firsthand the positive impact that STEM and college readiness programs have on our local students and communities.
– Chris Guiton, head of New Jersey initiatives, Johnson & Johnson

Nariman Farvardin, president of Stevens Institute of Technology, said ACES would not be as effective as it is today without corporate support.

“Relationships like this enable us to identify talented young students within our community and empower them to develop their talents and explore careers in science and technology,” said Farvardin. “These capable students might otherwise not have access to the support and resources they need to transition from high school to college.”

Edlyn Thompson-Mettle, director of high school enrichment programs at Stevens, noted that as the costs of tuition rises, accessing higher education, particularly in STEM fields, is becoming increasingly difficult for families with limited means and resources.

“We are excited to receive this generous gift and we look forward to welcoming more high school students on campus this summer and next,” Thompson-Mettle added.