REDMOND, Wash. — April 21, 2005 — Microsoft Corp. today announced disbursement of half a million dollars in scholarships, benefiting the largest number of undergraduates since the scholarship program’s inception in 1989. The announcement reflects the company’s commitment to making the technology field more accessible to a broader student population.
“This couldn’t have come at a better time for me or my family,” said Stephanie Dudzic, a sophomore at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who won one of the scholarships. “It will help me devote much more time to my area of interest and worry less about the future.”
“We are committed to building a strong and diverse pipeline of future computer scientists,” said Kristen Roby, senior director of Global College & MBA Recruiting at Microsoft. “Women and minorities have been traditionally underrepresented in the computer science and information technology professions, and we hope to help change this trend and encourage all students to consider computer science majors through this scholarship program.”
Each year, Microsoft awards the scholarships to approximately 30 students from across the United States, Canada and Mexico in recognition of their passion for software, academic excellence and ability to make a difference in the software industry.
Out of the six hundred students who applied for scholarships this year, a record 46 students are being awarded. Among those receiving scholarships, 17 are underrepresented minorities and 11 are women. This year’s awards include 13 full-tuition and eight half-tuition scholarships. The undergraduate program is one of a number of scholarship programs that Microsoft sponsors. Others include these:
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National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): Two winners receive $2,500 (U.S.) each.
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Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines: 10 winners receive $1,000 (U.S.) each.
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High school: 25 high-school seniors entering college in the fall receive $2,000 (U.S.) each.
In the past decade, Microsoft has awarded 400 undergraduate scholarships totaling more than $5 million (U.S.). More information about Microsoft® scholarships can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships.
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