This project is awarding scholarships to academically talented and financially needy students and is supporting the scholars through a variety of structures and programs. Women and students from underrepresented groups are being especially targeted for support. The institution has established interdisciplinary educational programs in Microelectronics-Photonics (microEP) to meet the national need for professionals with expertise in emerging areas of nanotechnology. Students are being targeted for participation in the scholarship program that are enrolled in either an undergraduate minor in microEP or a graduate program in microEP. This S-STEM project is well-integrated with other initiatives on campus including an REU site program and an IGERT program.