The Health Sciences & Technology Academy, known as HSTA, is a one-of-a-kind mentoring program in the state of West Virginia that helps participating high school students enter and succeed in STEM-based undergraduate and graduate degree programs. HSTA marshals the efforts of hundreds of mentors―teachers, community members, higher-education faculty and staff, and the HSTA participants themselves―through a framework that supports students facing social and financial challenges to obtaining a diploma and moving on to college.
HSTA Scholars Are . . .
75% rural, 37% African American, 69%, Female,68% First-Generation college attendees, 46% Financially Disadvantaged
And They Achieve Phenomenal Success
2879 high school students have graduated from HSTA, 1998-2019
99% of HSTA graduates matriculate to college
89% graduate from college; 86% graduate with a 4 year degree or better
84% of our college graduates continue to live and work in West Virginia
On average, HSTA students earn $30,000 per year more than their parents.
State schools provide substantial tuition support through medical school and other advanced STEM-based degrees
Click on the map to see the different counties and HSTA's success rates in each.