Propelling change:

Catalyst Scholars Program supports high-achieving, high-need engineering students. 

Story by Becky Barrett

First-generation students and those with high financial need are often underrepresented in engineering and other STEM fields. A scholarship program in the College of Engineering is rallying resources and support so that more students from diverse backgrounds can earn an engineering degree from Oregon State.  

Beginning in 2021, gifts from more than 100 donors, including alumni, OSU employees and industry professionals began funding financial aid for eligible students through the Catalyst Scholars Program. Brittany Altamirano, director of student success and scholarships in the college, says donors are excited about the impact students will have on the workforce. 

“More diverse voices at the table means more solutions and innovations in the field,” Altamirano says. 

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Catalyst Scholars are high achievers with good grades and substantial involvement in activities. They must also be either first-generation college students and/or Oregon residents with high financial need, which is determined by Pell Grant eligibility and includes about one in four engineering students.  

Already, the program is showing strong results. As the second round of Catalyst Scholars prepares to receive their diplomas in 2025, the program boasts an 84% retention rate and 100% post-graduation employment. 

“It’s so transformative, “Altamirano says. “It’s not just helping students reach graduation and get a job. This is changing families. It’s changing communities. It’s changing the trajectory of generational wealth and the values students are going to pass down.” 

The $8,000 given to Catalyst Scholars each year bridges gaps in financial aid so that eligible students don’t have to take out loans or work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Many students say they would not have been able to attend college if not for the extra financial support and onboarding guidance. 

Program Coordinator Brian Ixtlahuac connects students to resources and engagement activities, assessing the demands and needs of each engineering student and where they need to grow. Catalyst Scholars can also receive $2,000 each year to fund personalized experiential learning opportunities. 

“They are able to engage in activities or opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to them due to financial constraints,” Ixtlahuac says. “We’re breaking barriers, building together and figuring out ways to best support them.” 

Another key transition is preparing students for graduation. In the College of Engineering, first-generation students graduate at a 10% deficit compared to non-first-generation students. And nationally, only 19% of first-generation college students graduate.  

To close this gap, the program prepares Catalyst Scholars to be prime candidates for industry or advanced degree programs. Using an asset-based approach, Ixtlahuac leverages students’ strengths and pride in their backgrounds. 

“A lot of the programming focuses on pieces of their identity to ensure that by the time they graduate, they are ready to go,” Ixtlahuac says. “We know where to target programming.” 

Whether students aspire to become a design engineer or go into space, the Catalyst Scholars Program prepares students to enter the workforce with the skills and perspective to achieve their goals, reinforcing the message that an Oregon State engineering degree is attainable for everyone.