STEMM Scholars for Environmental Justice wraps summer 2025 cohort

By Michelle Ryan-Day
[email protected]

The 2025 STEMM Scholars for Environmental Justice (SSEJ) summer program marked the launch of an innovative effort to empower youth to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) while confronting the environmental and public health challenges that impact their own communities.

Recently, the first group of high school students from across Mobile County graduated from this initiative, funded by a nearly $1 million grant from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

A collaboration between USA Health’s Center for Healthy Communities and USA’s Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences offered opportunities for high school students to examine environmental hazards and their impacts on the health of Gulf Coast residents.

The students celebrated with a brunch at the MacQueen Alumni Center on the University of South Alabama campus, where they presented projects to their peers, families, community partners, and academic leaders.

Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D., a trauma and burn surgeon at USA Health and director for the USA Health Center for Healthy Communities, recounted highlights of the program and its importance in teaching STEMM skills to address environmental health concerns.

“The whole goal for the Center for Healthy Communities is to promote health in the community in the Gulf Coast region,” Williams Hogue said. “The STEMM program is a part of raising up the next generation of leaders that are also thinking about our environment and how that plays a role in our health.”

From June 9 through July 11, 25 students immersed themselves in independent learning modules, hands-on field trips, and original research projects with guidance and support from their mentors.

Their research covered a breadth of relevant and urgent topics: from how cigarette smoke affects plants and how to reduce litter in the city, to the role of green energy, tree equity, midwifery, and improving water quality in Prichard. Some tackled health concerns — such as the links between environmental factors and chronic illnesses like cancer and diabetes — while others addressed broader issues such as gun violence, heat stress during outdoor activities, and the environmental impact of waste in healthcare systems.

These projects were rooted in real conversations and concerns shared during an initial informational session. There, students and parents voiced the environmental and health issues they see in their own neighborhoods: unsafe water, pollution, crime, and public health disparities.

“As we close out our first SSEJ STEMM Scholars 2025 Summer Cohort, we extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible community organizations, mentors, and supporters who helped make this journey possible,” said Karla McCants, STEMM program manager. “This summer marked a powerful start to what we hope will be a lasting tradition of youth-led environmental justice and STEMM empowerment.”

Key collaborators included STEM Works II, Bay Area Women’s Coalition, Mobile Baykeeper, Azalea City Primary Care, Mobile Urban Growers, and Keep Mobile Beautiful. Their involvement — as site hosts, mentors, guest speakers, and role models — was vital to the success of the program.

“To every mentor, guest speaker, site host, and supportive partner,” McCants said, “your investment in our students helped them grow, question, explore, and lead. Your impact echoes through their projects and their future careers.”

The program’s 2025 summer graduates are:

Rae Beck, Jaylene Brandon, Jazmyne Campbell, Grey Casey, Zoi Cooper, Peyton Foster, Breanna Jowers, Dominque Kidd, Amiyah Knight, Anya Lee, Lauryn Madise, Tiang Mdluli, Klara McAlmon, Paris Moore, Madison O’Cain, Cassius Priest, Christiana Rakin, Zerricka Robinson, Juliana Schllusser, Amanda Thomas, Crimson Tingle, Caralaya Williams, Gage Williams, Raishaud Williams, and Synai Williams.