The Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust, in partnership with the Azmat A. Assur Charitable Foundation, proudly announces a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at advancing STEM education across Puerto Rico. This strategic initiative will empower students, enhance teacher effectiveness in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and provide essential community resources to support the island’s STEM education landscape.
Central to this initiative is the creation of the Azmat A. Assur Future Science Scholars Award. The award will recognize and support promising public-school students committed to pursuing careers in STEM fields. Each year, four outstanding students will receive a $5,000 scholarship, totaling $100,000 over the five-year program.
The partnership also allocates $75,000 over five years for the professional development of STEM teachers through the STEM+AI certificate initiative. This program will certify 25 teachers annually, enhancing their ability to integrate advanced STEM concepts into their curriculum. The collaboration also supports Hexagon, the Trust’s 3D printing studio in Ponce. With an annual investment of $25,000, totaling $125,000 over five years, the studio will provide high-quality STEM equipment accessible to audiences across the region.
Eng Luz A. Crespo, CEO of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust emphasized the importance of this partnership. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to support innovation, education, and workforce development in Puerto Rico. With it, we are truly empowering students and educators in a scalable manner by investing funds within a long-term strategy that promises scalable results.”
Jorge Valentine, director of the STEM & Workforce program, commented that: “training teachers and students is a unique opportunity to raise the status of education in our country, so that STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers and subjects have the interest and importance needed for the technological world we live in. We are proud to facilitate these opportunities”.
Ann Marie Assur, President of the Azmat A. Assur Charitable Foundation, expressed the Foundation’s commitment to the initiative. The Azmat A. Assur Charitable Foundation is thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust. This initiative embodies the values my late husband Azmat Assur cherished deeply—education as a powerful catalyst for change and progress. By supporting the next generation of STEM leaders and empowering educators, we are investing in the future of Puerto Rico. We believe that through this collaboration, we will nurture bright minds, elevate educational standards, and contribute to a vibrant and innovative technological landscape on the island.”
About the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust:
The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, as described in Public Law 214-204, is a private, non-profit organization created in 2004 to foster the Island’s participation and job creation in the global knowledge economy by promoting investment in and financing of science and technology research and development. It invests in, facilitates, and develops capabilities that continually advance Puerto Rico’s economy and the well-being of its citizens through research and development-based enterprises, science and technology, public health, and innovation. With the vision that Rico is a globally recognized innovation hub. The P.R. Trust for Science, Technology and Research was also designated one of 31 Tech Hubs, by President Biden’s administration in 2023, to lead the PRBio Tech Hub, with a multi-sector consortium on the Island. For more information: www.prsciencetrust.org.
About the Azmat A. Assur Charitable Foundation:
The Azmat A. Assur Charitable Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting educational initiatives and providing financial assistance to deserving students and institutions. Located in New York, the Foundation is committed to fostering educational excellence and opportunities for youth
