An Indiana student has been honored for successful completion of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics STEM Academy (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
From left, IUP John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dean Steve Hovan, Bailey Shoenfelt, and Jennifer Shoenfelt.
Bailey Schoenfelt, a biology pre-medicine major, daughter of David Shoenfelt and Jennifer Shoenfelt, was honored by IUP’s Kopchick College for completing 49 college credits—22 of them STEM credits—through IUP’s STEM Academy dual enrollment program. She completed these college-level courses while completing her high school degree.
The IUP STEM Academy is a dual‑enrollment program that allows motivated high school students to take IUP STEM courses while still in high school. Students in the IUP STEM Academy earn academic credit at IUP’s dual enrollment reduced tuition rate, gaining early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math majors.
Courses can be taken on campus or online, and students who complete at least 12 credits with strong academic performance earn a certificate of completion. The program is designed to help students get a head start on college, save money, and build confidence in rigorous STEM coursework before graduating from high school. Courses are all taught by IUP faculty.
During the recognition ceremony, Shoenfelt was recognized for her “dedication and academic achievement” by IUP professor of chemistry Ronald See in the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics. Shoenfelt began her IUP studies as a dual enrollment student in fall 2023.
“Successfully balancing this level of coursework requires discipline, time management, and a genuine passion for learning—qualities Bailey has consistently shown,” he said.
“The STEM Academy is designed to prepare motivated students for the rigor of higher education in the sciences and mathematics, and Bailey exemplifies what this program strives to accomplish. Her achievements reflect her hard work, resilience, and readiness for the next stage of her academic journey,” See said.
Shoenfelt will continue her studies at IUP in the fall, pursuing a biology pre‑medical degree.
“We have no doubt that she will continue to excel and make meaningful contributions to our academic community,” he said.
IUP’s dual enrollment pricing structure, endorsed in March 2024 by IUP’s Council of Trustees upon the recommendation of IUP President Michael Driscoll, sets the per-credit cost (tuition and fees) for dual-enrolled students at $100 per credit, a reduction of more than $100 from the previous cost. The pricing structure continues IUP’s 75 percent discount for dual enrollment courses from the undergraduate per-credit tuition rate.
A total of 125 students were enrolled in dual enrollment classes at IUP during the fall 2025 semester from 26 high schools; a total of 153 students from 27 high schools are at IUP through the dual enrollment program during the spring semester.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary during the 2025–26 academic year and through the Impact 150 comprehensive campaign, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking to its next 150 years of student success, innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.