Stony Brook University’s third group of Simons STEM Scholars finished a six-week Summer Bridge Program on August 9, marking the end of an experience focused on academics, leadership, and community building.
The 42 scholars in this cohort spent the summer living and learning together as part of a program designed to help them succeed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Erwin Cabrera, executive director of the Simons STEM Scholars Program, said, “A big part of this program is helping the students to take care of each other, and that’s part of why the previous cohorts have been so successful. They formed study groups, worked together on projects, and lifted each other up. They knew they were not alone.”
The Simons STEM Scholars Program started in 2022 with $56.6 million from the Simons Foundation. It provides full scholarships, housing, research opportunities, internship stipends, advising, and mentoring for students in STEM disciplines. The goal is to support students from their first days on campus through a comprehensive system.
This year’s group was described as the most competitive so far. The cohort had a record number of applicants and set new academic benchmarks with an average GPA of 97 and SAT score of 1450. Among these scholars are three valedictorians as well as the program’s first student athlete and first Regeneron scholar. Students came from five different states.
During the Summer Bridge Program, participants earned seven college credits by taking courses in mathematics, psychology, and a special curriculum course for Simons STEM Scholars. There were also non-credit workshops in chemistry, physics, or computer science to prepare students for future coursework.
Leadership training was another key component. Each week saw seven scholars selected as leaders who were mentored by faculty and staff about how to inspire others and face challenges collaboratively. Cabrera explained that leadership within the program emphasized cooperation: “The scholars came in as leaders from high school, but leadership here wasn’t just about standing out; it was about stepping back when needed, making space for others, and lifting the collective.”
Students also participated in research workshops led by faculty covering various scientific topics and visited labs both on campus and off-site. The program included mental health workshops to help students manage stress and maintain balance as well as etiquette training aimed at preparing them for professional situations like internships or conferences.
Team-building activities promoted problem-solving skills while strengthening connections among scholars—connections that Cabrera believes will last beyond their university years. One highlight was the Simons Summer Games event featuring competitions based on physics (“Born to Fly” egg drop), computer science (“Code Your Counselor” tic tac toe contest), and chemistry (“Chemical Chaos”).
Throughout their time together this summer, students developed a shared vision statement highlighting unity and collaboration: “As Simons STEM Scholars, we emphasize the importance of unity and celebrating not only our individual accomplishments but our accomplishments as a whole as we work towards becoming a cohort,” their statement read in part. “Rather than working as individuals, we recognize the effectiveness of working together to uplift each other in academics and social life to ensure cohort success. Through collaboration, mentorship, and a culture of belonging, we cultivated a cohesive cohort of scholars prepared to succeed and pursue impact through inclusion and diversity.” The statement concluded with their commitment to enter college “as a unified body of leaders, visionaries, professionals—and most importantly—scholars.”
Cabrera noted that he expects long-term effects from what these students built over six weeks: “These students built something bigger than themselves,” he said. “They created a community where success is shared and where every member lifts the others up. That is how you create change—not just on a campus—but in the world.”
