Pasadena, Texas
Applied Mathematics major
SLS 5th cohort
Future high school math teacher
Science Leadership Scholars
In fall 2016, Texas A&M Science welcomed the first cohort in its flagship retention effort, the Science Leadership Scholars (SLS) Program. This elite learning community, launched with generous underwriting from former students, donors, and college faculty, is designed to financially and academically support high-performing science majors who share common risk factors, including being first-generation students from low-income families. The program also provides mentorship focused on acclimating students to college.
Now in its fifth year, the program has served nearly 100 students, including two who completed their degrees in December 2019 as the program’s first graduates, another 10 who graduated in May 2020, and an additional four who graduated in December 2020.
Science Leadership Scholars are twice as likely to graduate in four years with a STEM degree as students from similar backgrounds who do not participate in the program
100% are first generation
100% are low socio-economic
Average SAT/ACT scores of 1250/25 or higher
Program participation more than doubles their success rate in completing science degrees
Scholar Spotlight
Marlisa Marquez '21
Science Leadership Scholar
Meet Texas A&M biology major and Science Leadership Scholar Marlisa “Marly” Marquez ’21, who shares her story about finding an unexpected home in Aggieland and Texas A&M Science in a Q&A segment featured in the summer 2019 issue of the Texas A&M Foundation’s Spirit Magazine.
Read more about Read Marlisa's Story Read Marlisa's StoryOscar Gonzalez '20
Science Leadership Scholar
Texas A&M chemistry major and Science Leadership Scholar Oscar Gonzalez ’20 has been named a 2019 Goldwater Scholar by the Goldwater Scholarship Foundation in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and research potential. Gonzalez is among 48 Texas A&M students selected to date for the prestigious honor since the initial scholarship was issued in 1989.
Read more about Read Oscar's Story Read Oscar's StoryThao-Nguyen Pham '20
Science Leadership Scholar
Texas A&M biology major and Science Leadership Scholar Thao-Nguyen Pham ’20 describes how she instantly fell in love with the Texas A&M University culture and how her experiences in academics and research have helped shaped her into the person she is today.
Read more about Watch Thao-Nguyen's Story Watch Thao-Nguyen's StoryCurrent Scholars


Raymondville, Texas
Mathematics major
SLS 3rd cohort
Future high school math teacher

Spring, Texas
Statistics major
SLS 5th cohort
Future Air Force Operations Research Analyst

Round Rock, Texas
Microbiology and Biochemistry double major
SLS 2nd cohort
Future infectious diseases pharmacist

Snook, Texas
Applied Mathematics major
SLS 2nd cohort
Future traveling mathematician

La Marque, Texas
Molecular and Cellular Biology major
SLS 2nd cohort
Future doctor

Laredo, Texas
Physics and Spanish double major
SLS 3rd cohort
Future high school physics teacher

Spring Branch, Texas
Physics major
SLS 2nd cohort
Future high school math or physics teacher

Fort Worth, Texas
Statistics major (BS+MS Fast-Track Program)
SLS 2nd cohort
Future statistics professor

Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Biology major
SLS 2nd cohort
Future healthcare or immigration lawyer

San Antonio, Texas
Physics major
SLS 4th cohort
Future high school physics teacher

Tyler, Texas
Mathematics major
SLS 5th cohort

San Antonio, Texas
Mathematics major
SLS 1st cohort
Future space mathematician
Scholar Graduates

Wylie, Texas
B.S. Biology (May 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Medical student, UT Southwestern

Corpus Christi, Texas
B.S. Zoology (May 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Working and preparing to apply to vet school

San Juan, Texas
B.S. Chemistry (May 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Ph.D. candidate in chemistry, UC Berkeley

Edinburg, Texas
B.S. Biology (May 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Masters candidate in infectious disease epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University

Venus, Texas
B.S. Biology (December 2020)
SLS 2nd cohort
Working pending acceptance to med school

El Paso, Texas
B.A. Chemistry/B.A. Spanish (December 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Shadowing and preparing to apply to PA school

Houston, Texas
B.S. Applied Mathematical Science (May 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Masters candidate in mathematics, University of Houston

Fort Worth, Texas
B.S. Statistics (December 2019)
SLS 1st cohort
Entered workforce

Sugar Land, Texas
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology (December 2020)
SLS 2nd cohort
Upstream manufacturing technician, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies

Laredo, Texas
B.S. Biology (May 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Working and preparing to apply to med school

Houston, Texas
B.A. Chemistry (December 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Gaining in-classroom teaching experience prior to obtaining full-time position in fall 2021

Olmito, Texas
B.S. Chemistry (May 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Masters candidate in polymer chemistry, University of Minnesota

Fort Worth, Texas
B.S. Biology (May 2020)
SLS 1st cohort
Working and preparing to apply to med school
SLS Perspectives
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Texas A&M Science - Labors of Lab (Episode 38)
In our latest Labors of Lab episode, Texas A&M biology major Amy Trejo '22 shares how her life has been personally affected by COVID-19 and the role she's playing in finding a vaccine for the disease through undergraduate research. -
Texas A&M Science - Meet Marly Marquez '21
Texas A&M Science - Biology major and Science Leadership Scholar Marly Marquez '21 discusses her love of playing guitar and how scholarships helped her achieve her dream of becoming an Aggie. -
Texas A&M Science - I Am Texas A&M Science (Episode 21)
Even for the most seasoned academic, career inspiration starts somewhere, and it all begins with a story. Here’s one from Sara Thigpin '08, manager for student success in the College of Science, who talks about her approach to helping Aggie science majors navigate their college experience.
Texas A&M Science honors the individuals and corporations whose generous philanthropy benefits our undergraduate students by helping to provide them with hands-on learning opportunities, academic resources, mentorship, and social support through their participation in the Science Leadership Scholars Program.
SLS Sponsors
Judy C. and James R. Adams ‘61
Dr. Ersen Arseven ’74
Dr. John M. Beckerdite ’76
Shirley and Don Birkelbach ‘70
BP
Barbara Brown ’82 and John C. Calhoun IV ‘79
Drs. James W. ’68 and Patricia Chancellor
Dr. Abraham Clearfield, Norman Clearfield, and Dr. Howard M. Clearfield
Rebecca M. ’75 and Joseph C. Demeter
Gina M. ’86 and John R. Dickerson ‘86
Michael D. ’79 and Debra L. ’79 Dishberger
Nancy and Robert L. Dunham ‘63
Alyssa R. Fenoglio ’03
General Motors
Dr. Richard H. Gomer
Patricia J. ’92 and Dagoberto I. Gonzalez, Jr. ’92
Dr. Matthew A. ’82 and Patricia J. Harthcock
Cynthia and Dr. William R. Howell, Jr. ’69
The Kelly-Laustsen Family Foundation
Michael C. Krueger ’76
Kelly ’90 and Randy Lunsford ‘89
Ahmed M. Mahmoud ’87
Joseph and Karin Natowitz
Dina and Dr. Tyler “Ty” Pendergrass ’94
Thomas W. Powell ‘62
Antonio C. Rodriquez ’90 and Maria Francine Rodriquez ‘91
Terrell W. Rowan ’72 and Joshua P. Rowan ‘02
Col. Harold “Hal” C. Schade ‘67
Barbara H. and Emil J. Straube
Dr. M. Rick Villarreal, II ’88
Gabriel Wilson
Katherine A. and Ronald I. Wilson ‘72
Bonsall S. Wilton ’72
The Class of 1961
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, each SLS student currently receives $2,500 in financial support each year for four years — an investment of $10,000 per student. You, too, can play an integral role in backing the Science Leadership Scholars Program.