Saginaw Valley State University has announced a $5 million gift from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation to bolster learning in STEM fields at the middle school, high school, and postsecondary levels in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region.

The largest gift ever to the university will establish the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow STEM Scholar Network, a four-week summer camp program for middle and high school students, and support undergraduate research projects by SVSU students. Modeled on a successful pilot program implemented by SVSU in 2012 at Ruben Daniels Middle School in Saginaw, the new program will enlist high school and college students to serve as mentors and SVSU and school district faculty to serve as instructors. In addition, to encourage students to pursue college degrees in STEM fields, the network will target up to thirty-six high school students per year in three summer camps designed around individual topics.

"We profoundly appreciate this expression of confidence in our ability to contribute to meeting the need for more highly qualified graduates in the STEM disciplines in our region and our state," said SVSU president Donald Bachand. "We have a strong history in these fields and we have fine faculty and staff who are up to the task. This builds upon our many successful STEM programs already in place, and we’re eager to get started."