WID Central Florida Scholarships

WID Central Florida believes in practicing leadership early and mentoring leaders through workforce development and community support.  WID CFL was able to help expand student and teacher engagement and workforce skills through Gains in the Education of Math and Science (GEMS) Central Florida, a Team Orlando summer STEAM academy for rising 6th–11th graders, near‑peer mentors, and professional educators. GEMS participants engage in 25 hours of applied STEAM workforce practice, while high‑school and college mentors participate in 6–8‑week paid internships that develop leadership, communication, and technical skills. The 2026 GEMS theme, “Outer Space in Our Everyday Lives,” immerses students in the technologies that power modern society—semiconductors, satellites, robotics, drones, and cybersecurity—while connecting learning to real‑world applications across agriculture, healthcare, transportation, energy, and defense. Weekly field experiences at Kennedy Space Center’s International Academy reinforce the link between Central Florida’s MS&T ecosystem and the broader space industry.  WID CFL provided scholarship funding and showed up with huge smiles and miles of experience to support 52 HS leaders in training (campers), 12 HS and College students in leadership practice (NPM) and 8 professional educators leading the future through a week of serious play designed to build strong foundations in leadership.