Beckman Foundation Awards Santa Ana-based Achievement Institute for STEM Scholars (AISS) a $25,000 Orange County Community Support Grant
College to Career Readiness STEM Program Provides 45 Students with Hands-on, Project-based Learning Opportunities, Mentorship Support, and Networking Resources
IRVINE, Calif. (June 24, 2026) – The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation today announced the Achievement Institute for STEM Scholars (AISS) as the latest recipient of its Orange County Community Support Grant, issuing a $25,000 partnership award for its College to Career Readiness STEM Program, a structured STEM immersion experience developed to prepare students for college success and beyond by engaging them in a personalized, comprehensive model of hands-on, project-based learning, mentorship experiences, and networking resources.
Beckman’s local community support grants fund organizations with innovative STEM/STEAM activities, projects, and/or events within the Orange County, California area that align with its aim of “supporting young scientists today for tomorrow’s breakthrough discoveries.” AISS Scholars build knowledge and engage in team projects in professional scientific laboratories where they explore topics like engineering, robotics, sustainability research, and explorations in biotechnology, activities that foster curiosity and teach critical thinking through experimentation and collaboration.
“Our Scholars are not passive learners—they are aspiring scientists, engineers, doctors, and researchers. For over 20 years, this program has been successfully preparing under-resourced, minority, first-generation high school students to be successful in four-year colleges and universities, and then in STEM careers…this $25,000 donation supports our expansion as we transition into a larger organization serving twice as many individuals as before.
About the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation
Located in Irvine, California, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation supports researchers and nonprofit research institutions in making the next generation of breakthroughs in chemistry and the life sciences. Founded in 1977 by 20th century scientific instrumentation pioneer Dr. Arnold O. Beckman, the Foundation supports United States institutions and young scientists whose creative, high-risk, and interdisciplinary research will lead to innovations and new tools and methods for scientific discovery. For more information, visit beckman-foundation.org.
About Achievement Institute for STEM Scholars (AISS)
The Achievement Institute for STEM Scholars (AISS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering high-achieving, economically disadvantaged high school students who aspire to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Through mentorship, college and career readiness programs, industry exposure, and hands-on learning experiences, AISS equips students with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to succeed in higher education and the STEM workforce. By expanding access to educational and professional pathways, AISS strives to break the cycle of poverty and create a diverse pipeline of future STEM leaders.
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Press Contact:
Kaerie Ray, Communications Director
(949) 560-4232, [email protected]
