Microsoft hopes to contribute to increase the pool of persons, living with a disability enrolling in higher education and, in the long term, decrease the unemployment bias for this demographic. The disability scholarship at Microsoft delivers on the mission of Microsoft’s cross-disability employee resource group to empower and enable people with disabilities. This scholarship enables high school students with disabilities to go to college and target a career in the technology industry. This scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and have a financial need. The amount of this renewable scholarship to be awarded is $5,000 per year, up to $20,000.
Microsoft Corporation (commonly referred to as Microsoft or MS) is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington, that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports and sells computer software, consumer electronics, and personal computers and services.
Eligibility
To be considered for the Microsoft disAbility Scholarship, you must:
- Be a current high school senior with living with a disAbility (as defined by WHO), whether that be visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive, speech or other disAbility.
- Open to international students
- Plan to attend an undergraduate program in a 2 or 4-year University/College or Technical College in the fall of the academic year following high-school graduation. Schools must be in the USA or have a USA-Affiliate for financial transactions (contact Seattle Foundation to verify non-USA school’s eligibility).
- Declare a major in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, law, business, or a related field (e.g. paralegal, pre-law, finance, business administration, or marketing).
- Demonstrate a passion for technology.
- Demonstrate leadership at school and/or in the community.
- Have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Require financial assistance to attend college.
- Enrollment status must be full-time or half-time.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can download the scholarship application form through the given link:
https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE1n0A6
Required Documents
- Your resume should include the following information:
- Extracurricular activities (school and community related)
- Honors and awards that you have received (if possible, include awards that are technology related)
- Work experience
- Picture of yourself(Optional)
- Include an official “sealed” copy of your current academic transcript. (If selected, unofficial copies will not be accepted.)
- Three essays
- In no more than 500 words, describe how you plan to be engaged in the technology industry or technology law or policy in your career.
- In no more than 500 words, please share your vision of how Microsoft can innovate its future devices and services solutions to creatively & successfully support those living with disabilities in the workplace and in daily life to reach their potential.
- In no more than 250 words, demonstrate your financial need for this scholarship.
- Two letters of recommendation.At least one letter must be from a faculty or staff member at your school. Letters of recommendation should be original and should not be duplicates of college recommendation letters. (Letters must be on letterhead.)
Submitting Details
Mail completed applications to the following address
Seattle Foundation
Attn: Scholarships
1601 Fifth Ave. Suite 1900
Seattle, WA 98101
Scholarships-at-seattlefoundation.org
Scholarship Value
This scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and have a financial need. The amount of this renewable scholarship to be awarded is $5,000 per year, up to $20,000.
Application Deadline
Mail the completed application packet to the following address by March 15. Selection will be complete, and those selected to receive the Microsoft disAbility Scholarship will be notified by April 30.
More Info
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/programs/microsoftdisabilityscholarship.aspx
Contact Information
Still, have questions? Send an e-mail message to scholarships-at-seattlefoundation.org
