Four exceptional FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Science students have set their sights on attending medical school after graduation. To help them continue their scientific ambitions, seniors Lina Crisostomo, Tsaiace Edwards, Jorge Torres and Mikhail Isaac have each been awarded $1,000 to fully fund their FAU Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) preparatory course fees from the Douglas and Virginia Stewart Foundation.

“We are so grateful to the Douglas and Virginia Stewart Foundation for their continued support of the FAU College of Medicine’s Healthcare Careers Outreach Program and the expansion of our efforts to support undergraduate students in their pursuit to become physicians,” said Jennifer Caceres, M.D., FAU Schmidt College of Medicine Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions.

Thanks to the foundation’s generosity, these four academically high-achieving students — who are part of the first cohort of the Schmidt College of Science’s prestigious  Soar-in-4 Scholars Program  — were each awarded a scholarship. The unique and highly customized Soar-in-4 program provides participants with professional hands-on support and personalized attention as students advance toward their bachelor’s degree within four years of their initial freshman enrollment.

“We have so many talented individuals at Florida Atlantic University who are bright, motivated, self-driven and eager to gain the skills needed to attend medical school and the Schmidt College of Medicine is excited to have the opportunity to help support them,” said Dr. Caceres.

Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies in the Schmidt College of Science, Evonne Rezler, Ph.D., shares, “I am beyond proud of the achievements of our Soar-in-4 scholars. This funding will help springboard them during this next phase of their journey to medical school.”

“These students are passionate about serving others and are ideal candidates to become our next generation of healthcare professionals. In advising this group through the Pre-Health Professions Office, we see first-hand how important the grant support is and how it helps breaks down barriers for this talented group of future leaders,” says Gina Jones, Director of the Pre-Health Professions Office, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.

The Douglas and Virginia Stewart Foundation is a long-time supporter of the Schmidt College of Medicine, the College of Business and the College of Education at FAU. For years, their foundation has supported Schmidt College of Medicine pathway programs designed to encourage and support school-age and college students with a broad range of lived experiences and backgrounds to pursue careers in the medical field.

All four students applied for the scholarship with assistance from the  FAU Schmidt College of Science’s Pre-Health Professions Office. Four additional scholarships are anticipated to be awarded for the fall.