The Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (WAESO LSAMP) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded consortium of 13 educational institutions across Arizona, Utah, and Colorado, with the lead institution being Arizona State University.  The WAESO program works to broaden the participation of students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines at the undergraduate student level, particularly by individuals that have been historically underrepresented in STEM, as is consistent with the goal of the overall NSF LSAMP program. Furthermore, the WAESO program seeks to prepare students for advanced STEM degrees. The WAESO program's aims are accomplished primarily through intensive research experiences and mentoring from STEM faculty, peer mentoring activities, summer bridge programs, and training workshops.