Middlesex CC STEM Student Awarded Station1 Frontier Fellowship

Thomas Rua is having an “extraordinary” experience at Middlesex Community College. In his second year of his associate degree at Middlesex, the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major applied for and was accepted into the 2021 Station1 Frontiers Fellowship program. The Fellowship works to provide opportunities to a diverse population of students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in an innovative and inclusive way.

“I feel ecstatic to be part of such a unique opportunity,” Rua said. “I am currently finishing off the first week of the Fellowship, and we are having a shared curriculum in Science and Engineering with the support of incredible mentors from the best universities, while being involved in research within different leading companies.”

MCC Professor Madhu Dhar attended a workshop in January 2020 and learned of Station1 ­– a nonprofit “paving a pathway of opportunity through frontier learning and research at the intersection of science, technology and humanity,” according to their website. Dhar appreciated the emphasis on inclusion and equity, and learning through project-based opportunities.

“Station1 believes in eradicating inequality in education – including access – as well as the quality and nature of the educational experience itself, particularly for minority students,” Dhar said. “They believe that students of all backgrounds deserve the opportunity to be inspired and empowered to pursue science and engineering to foster a more equitable, creative, prosperous, and sustainable world.”

Dhar advertised the Frontiers Fellowship opportunity in her classes and STEM Club, where she is the faculty mentor and Rua is President. In her recommendation letter for Rua, she wrote that he is hardworking, has an excellent academic record, and is deserving of the achievement.

Rua also has a passion for STEM. As president of the club, he is looking forward to exploring new “opportunities for engagement and scientific excitement” for the Fall 2021 semester. He works in MCC’s Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE), as both a Math Peer Tutor and Supplemental Instructor.

In his courses – from Calculus to Chemistry, Physics to Engineering – he has found mentors in his professors, including Dhar and MCC STEM faculty members John Savage, John Smith and Cristopher Algarra, who also helped him apply for the Fellowship.

“I can’t be thankful enough for all the support and guidance I received from them,” he said. “I feel fortunate to have encountered such amazing mentors as my professors, and I am sure that all of them have contributed in some meaningful way to become a better version of myself.”

From Colombia and now living in Lawrence. Rua chose to come to Middlesex for his first educational experience in the United States. He has enjoyed both the campuses in Bedford and Lowell, the community the college provides, and support from faculty and staff. When he graduates in the Spring 2022 semester, he will transfer to a four-year university.

“I luckily found MCC,” he said. “I have truly loved and enjoyed all the classes I have taken at MCC and I appreciate being part of this diverse community.”

MCC’s STEM pathway helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_stem.aspx for more information and to discover your path to a degree in STEM at Middlesex.

Registration is now open for MCC’s Summer and Fall 2021 semesters. To register, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!