Since its founding in 2006, the Envoys program has impacted hundreds of high school students in Cleveland and East Cleveland schools. With the purpose of increasing access to STEAM for underrepresented minority students, the Envoys program supports a number of students each summer to engage in research projects on campus for three summers, from 10th grade through 12th grade.

“It's imperative that programs such as Envoys continue to bolster the likelihood of success beyond anecdotal stories,” Tariq K. Shabazz, program manager of the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension (SDLE) Research Center, said.

Housed under SDLE since 2023, the Envoys program joins other highschool outreach programs in conjunction with the American Chemical Society Project SEED Program. In 2024, there were 13 students enrolled and for 2025 that number has more than doubled with up to 30 students for the upcoming summer.

Throughout the 8-10 week summer program, Envoy students conduct research alongside PhD students, under the mentorship of CWRU faculty. To mitigate the need for a summer job, students are provided a $4,000 stipend for their work, a laptop and breakfast and lunch each day. Shabazz says addressing food equity and providing a stipend helps address the “varying barriers for entry present in higher education.”

Students work in a variety of labs, addressing a number of issues related to solar durability. They have the opportunity to gain real hands-on experience both through working in labs and utilizing the university’s core facilities and also by attending seminars and lectures, presenting their research findings and attending symposia—like the CWRU-Tohoku 10th Annual Engineering and Life Sciences Symposium where students presented to partners from Tohoku University.

“Engaging with these capable high school students who have not typically felt included in science really enriches our research group,” Laura Bruckman, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, said. “The high school students learn so much and meet new challenges head on and it brings joy to the group when someone overcomes a challenge and gets that “aha” moment for the first time.”

The program is set for growth and expected to continue welcoming more students to campus each year with additional funding. As the program manager, Shabazz is committed to fostering relationships with students and families, encouraging them to consider Case Western Reserve University when applying for college.

“The growing visibility of our initiatives is attracting new funding opportunities, allowing us to expand our reach and impact even further,” Shabazz shared. “With these resources, we can deepen our commitment to student development and ensure that more young minds are inspired to pursue careers in STEAM, ultimately shaping a brighter future for our communities.”