Wellesley College Joins STEM collaborative spearheaded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Mary Mazzio

Wellesley, Mass. - Wellesley College has announced participation in the “Let Everyone Dream” Coalition, a national initiative announced Monday, March 23 during the White House Science Fair that introduces new multi-sector partnerships in support of STEM education for underserved students. The White House will further celebrate the launch of the Coalition, and kick off National Robotics Week, with a special screening of Underwater Dreams, a story about an underdog robotics team, on April 7.

The “Let Everyone Dream” Coalition was founded in response to President Obama’s charge to find new and creative ways to support STEM education in the United States. The Coalition – which, in addition to Wellesley, also includes EPIX, Televisa, 3M, MIT, CUNY, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Rockwell Automation and will.i.am’s i.am.angel foundation, among others – has collectively committed more than $90 million dollars to support STEM education and opportunities for students from low income and underrepresented communities.

Wellesley’s currently highlighted commitments include over $20 million to support women in STEM from pre-college to graduate training. These efforts are made possible by the generous support of individual donors, along with recent grants by the Sherman Fairchild Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, the Alden Trust and the Motorola Solutions Foundation, among others.

Wellesley has long been committed to educating women for careers in STEM fields. In fact, according to a 2013 National Science Foundation report, Wellesley ranks highest among liberal arts colleges in the number of women graduates who go on for Ph.D.s in the sciences. The current commitments include updates to the College's Science Center and greenhouses, support for faculty research, and programs that support student work in STEM fields.

Underwater Dreams depicts the inspiring story of how the sons of undocumented Mexican immigrants built an underwater robot from Home Depot parts, entering a robotics competition and defeating MIT in the process. The film was narrated by Michael Peña and directed by American award-winning documentary filmmaker Mary Mazzio, whose portfolio includes many films that have created a social impact, including The Apple Pushers (2011), Ten9Eight: Shoot for the Moon (2009), Lemonade Stories (2004), and A Hero For Daisy (1999).

Following the White House screening on April 7, Underwater Dreams will be available for hundreds of special screenings across the country and for viewing free at EPIX.com beginning April 7th and continuing through the week.

About Wellesley College

Since 1875, Wellesley College has been the preeminent liberal arts college for women. Known for its intellectual rigor and its remarkable track record for the cultivation of women leaders in every arena, Wellesley—only 12 miles from Boston—is home to some 2400 undergraduates from every state and 75 countries.

Press Contacts

Anne Yu, Associate Director, Media Relations, ayu@wellesley.edu, 781-283-3201
Sofiya Cabalquinto, Director, Media Relations, scabalqu@wellesley.edu, 781-283-3321