As the 2020-2021 academic year came to a close, Naugatuck Valley Community College celebrated student success through a robust calendar of events that highlighted achievement and excellence while promising bright futures. Students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Division are no exception. The STEM Division at NVCC is home to the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded NViSION program which boasts significant student achievement this semester:  

NViSION Scholar, Jonathan Escobar has been accepted into the competitive NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) Program starting summer 2021.  

 NVCC Spring 2021 graduate and NViSION Scholar, Jeffrey Bernabe has been accepted to both the University of California San Diego's and the University of California Los Angelo's Engineering degree programs for Fall 2021.  

 NVCC graduate and NViSION Scholar, Pedro Arias Matos has been accepted into the competitive Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) program for Cybersecurity at the University of North Carolina Charlotte for Summer 2021.  

Current NViSION Scholar, Steison Ruiz received an award from the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium. Steison will graduate from NVCC in August and is headed to Central Connecticut State University in the fall. 

The program is directed by three NVCC STEM faculty, Rebecca Binney, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Science Department Chair, Director and Principal investigator of the NViSION program; Mariangeli Zerbi, Professor of Mathematics and Co-Director and Co-Principal Investigator of the NViSION program; and Peter Angelastro, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology, Co-Director and Co-Principal Investigator of the NViSION program.  

Dr. Binney commented about these high-achieving students: "We are so proud of and excited for our NViSION scholars! The benefits of these opportunities, acceptances, and scholarships are immeasurable and I am beyond excited to witness their resulting professional growth!" 

Further emphasizing the benefits of the NViSION program, Dr. Angelastro noted: “We are very proud of the impressive accomplishments of our NViSION scholars. They have been able to take advantage of opportunities within the NViSION program, through NVCC and other institutions and organizations to broaden their experiences and set themselves up for future success.” 

The NSF-funded scholarship NViSION program at NVCC supports promising STEM students to graduate from NVCC and either transfer to a 4-year college in a STEM program or directly enter the STEM workforce. The purpose of the program is to provide programming, academic and social supports, and professional experiences to help students build increased motivation towards a STEM career, empower students to self-identify as a STEM professional, and to ensure STEM students’ self-efficacy, all while providing significant financial support in terms of scholarships to increase their likelihood of success.   

NVCC is now recruiting NViSION students for the 2021-2022 academic year. Requirements for the program include a GPA of 2.5 with noted accomplishments in STEM courses; status as a US citizen, permanent resident, national, or refugee; demonstrated financial need as determined per FAFSA; and a commitment to full-time enrollment at NVCC in a STEM degree program until completion of the degree and/or transfer to a 4-year college or university. Applications are available on the College website nv.edu/nvision or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

Students accepted into the NViSION program are eligible for multiple supports, including scholarships in the amount of $1000-$5000 per year for the first two years of study, free tutoring, all-expense paid university tours and STEM field trips, and STEM workshops, advising, and counseling. In addition, students have the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research and participate in internships and job shadowing.