Academic Partners

Thanks From Scholar Louise Giam

I have been an Arnold Beckman scholar for the past three years while working towards my PhD at Northwestern University. I feel extremely privileged to have received support from ARCS and have always enjoyed meeting the members, whether it is talking about the creative event themes, lessons learned from different industries, or how science and technology have changed over the years. ARCS has provided funds that enabled me to attend conferences and meet peers within my field. It has given me peace of mind to focus on research without distractions and the confidence to pursue important scientific questions that my lab would not typically investigate. Most importantly, however, ARCS has conveyed the importance of bridging lab work with the community-at-large and committed me to become involved in creating opportunities for future scientists as well.

Thanks From Scholar Emily Bethea

The debt associated with higher education can be overwhelming. As I continue to talk with classmates and friends I realize how truly fortunate I am to have had your generous support which allowed me to take liberties in research and clinical exposure as I progressed through medical school. I think sometimes donations can seem small, or because they are intangible hard to associate with real gain --- I want to make very clear how much I benefited from your generosity. On a daily basis things were easier, meaning I could focus on learning and not worry constantly about how I was going to structure my financial plan. It also allowed me to consider a career path in primary care, and not feel anxious about paying back the large amount of debt I have still accrued. Importantly, it was beneficial to meet and learn from such an extraordinary group of women and supporters. Watching people come together throughout the year was such a touching experience; I believe it was integral to my development to see everyone fighting for something they so strongly believe in. I can’t thank you enough, please know that I'll be able to make more of a difference in the lives of others because you were thoughtful enough to make the difference in mine. I'm still on board, let's keep working to advance science in America!

Thanks From Scholar Rebecca Barak

Thank you for your interest in the future of science, and thank you so much for your generous support during my graduate school years. I have enjoyed meeting many of you at the ARCS events, and hope to stay connected to the ARCS family in the years to come. Thanks to your funding I was able to travel to the beautiful Zion National Park in Utah to conduct field work, and collect seeds for my research on ecological restoration in the Colorado Plateau. Thanks to your generosity I was able to focus my energies on my studies and my research, and I appreciate this immensely. My immediate plans include finishing my masters project! I hope to use my data to inform species selection for restoration in Zion National Park and the surrounding areas. Some native plant species which are not typically candidates for reseeding projects may have the potential to curb invasive species, and restore native diversity. In addition, I will continue my work as Coordinator of Climate Change Education at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where I work with teachers to develop, test, and implement curriculum that addresses climate change through data analysis and citizen-science. In the future, I hope to continue to marry my interests in education and restoration from within the field of seed conservation. Thank you again, ARCS members for all that you do!


“The importance of attracting the brightest students into advanced graduate programs in engineering and science cannot be underestimated. ARCS has been a pioneer in financially supporting such students as they transition into PhD programs in STEM areas at our top universities. The ARCS fellowships provided to IIT have enabled us to retain these students in graduate school, many of whom will become faculty at other universities and top researchers in industrial and government laboratories, thus advancing discovery and technology in the United States." Dr. John Anderson Former President, Illinois Institute of Technology Click here to learn more about programs supported at IIT.		“From energy to climate change to health care, society’s greatest challenges require scientific understanding and new discoveries. The Chicago Chapter of the ARCS Foundation has supported students at the University of Chicago for over three decades, with great impact, and the University is honored to continue that partnership to develop the scientific leaders of the twenty-first century." Dr. Robert J. Zimmer President, The University of Chicago Click here to learn more about programs supported at University of Chicago.


“Research thrives at Northwestern, with interdisciplinary teams working to address some of the most significant scientific, energy and other issues facing the world today. Fellowships from the ARCS Foundation help us attract highly gifted graduate students who will go on to pursue discoveries that will make the world a better place for all. We sincerely appreciate ARCS’ support." Dr. Morton Schapiro President, Northwestern University Click here to learn more about programs supported at Northwestern.		“ Loyola University Chicago is grateful to the ARCS Foundation Chicago for its support for our Stritch School of Medicine students who demonstrate academic excellence and a passion for medical research. Research at Stritch is critical to our students' education and to our efforts exploring new and enhanced ways to care for patients. This partnership with ARCS helps ensure that talented students have access to, and can participate via their research, in Loyola's transformation education." Father Garanzini President, Loyala University, Stritch Medical Center Click here to learn more about programs supported at Loyola.