The Bridges program, partially funded through the University of Kansas’s Office for Advancing Success in Science, was created to help college students at Haskell Indian Nations University get ready for careers in science, especially those seeking advanced degrees in science and entering bioscience research fields. The program gave students from KU and Haskell a chance to do fundamental research while being part of a supportive group. The program offered help like learning new skills, getting advice from mentors, and financial support that benefited many students. In 2025, the program held the final banquet to celebrate the students’ hard work and success. Everyone shared memories and discussed how the program helped them grow and learn.
Sadly, the program had to end because the United States government changed how it would spend its money, shifting funding priorities through agencies like the National Institutes of Health and Health and Human Services, which led to the loss of support for programs focused on student development, diversity, and research training. Even though the program helped many KU and Haskell students, especially those who do not always get the same chances in science, it could not continue without funding. Many people in the program, like Christian Young, who was in KU PREP, stated, “It was difficult to hear that KU’s PREP program had been terminated; it made me feel powerless.” Others who were part of the program are now worried about what this means for other programs that help students from underrepresented groups in science and research fields.
At the final banquet, people were both sad and thankful. They were proud of what the bridges program had done and how it helped many students become future scientists through encouragement and mentorship. Even though the program is over, there is hope that something similar can start again one day, and many students have faith that the program will once again start. The Office for Advancing Success in Science showed how important it is to give all students a chance to succeed in science, and its impact will be remembered for a long time.
Christian Young shared, “Despite the challenges we face, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of scientific truth. Our resilience will carry us forward, even in adversity.”
