Scholarships Opportunities for Women in STEM

By: Ariana Bull

While there is currently an underrepresentation of women from diverse backgrounds in STEM, many groups, colleges, and employers are aiming to change that. Pursuing STEM careers can be daunting for some women due to the financial hurdles of attending academic institutions, however, there are increasing opportunities for female students who need scholarships. Here is a list to provide a few.

The BHW Group’s Women in STEM Academic Scholarship

The BHW group annually offers a $3000 scholarship for women pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree in STEM. Applications for the 2022 school year open January 2022, and students can get a started by writing a 500-800 word essay on one of the following topics

• Tell us about your favorite app and what you like about it.

• Tell us about a time an app played a significant role in improving your day.

Scholarships from the Society of Women Engineers

SWE’s website offers a variety of scholarships for women in engineering. In 2020 they disbursed nearly 260 new and renewed scholarships valued at more than $1,000,000! Applications are judged on academic preparation, leadership and activities, work experience, and interest in engineering.

• For incoming Freshmen, applications open March 1 - May 1.

• For those in their Sophomore through Graduate year, applications are open December 1 – February 15

Bold.org Scholarships

With amounts ranging from $500 to $30,000, Bold.org makes it easy to find and apply for multiple scholarships on their website. They offer a variety of scholarships in partnership with their donors and have many categories to choose from such as scholarships for women in STEM, single moms, minorities, and more. Here are some scholarships featured on their website, to list a few.

• Latinas in STEM Scholarship

• "Fight for Equality" Women in STEM Scholarship

• Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship

John Howard Adkins Memorial Scholarship

Those who are graduating high school in 2021 can apply for the John Howard Adkins Memorial Scholarship. Awarded annually to female students since 2015, this scholarship aims to support women’s efforts to pursue an education in science, technology, math, or engineering. Scholarship recipients are awarded a $1000 scholarship. Applicants must write three short essays (100-500 words) on the following topics.

• What are your academic and career goals and how have your friends and family influenced and inspired them?

• Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

• What does "authenticity" mean to you and how do you maintain it?

Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship

The 2021 application period may now be closed, but the Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship is a great opportunity for women enrolled in their undergraduate degrees. The scholarship is awarded annually and will shortly open up again later in 2022. Palantir’s hope is to encourage women to pursue computer science, engineering, and technical studies, and to become leaders in these fields. They choose 10 scholarship recipients to invite to a virtual developmental workshop and reward $7,000 grants to support their education.

Scholarships are important because they can help relieve the stress of paying for college. No one should have their education limited due to their economic status. Consider applying to some of the scholarships above and take advantage of the many opportunities out there.

Written By: Ariana Bull

I am currently a sophomore in the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University majoring in Computer Science. I discovered my passion for coding in my high school’s robotics club, and I feel fortunate to have had the exposure because it inspired me to pursue a career in software engineering. I am excited to be a part of CGEST because I am able to help give others a similar opportunity to experience how awesome STEM is! I believe having a good support system is always important, so I hope to offer encouragement to those considering STEM, especially those currently underrepresented in the field or otherwise discouraged to join.

A little more about me: when I am not studying or working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends in addition to staying active whether it’s golf, tennis, running, or volleyball. I love trying new things, and I am always down for an adventure!