Applications are being accepted for Microsoft Disability Scholarships. 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. The scholarship is paid through the Seattle Foundation on behalf of the disAbility Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Microsoft to the recipient’s school’s Financial Aid Office.
The Disability Scholarship at Microsoft delivers on the mission of Microsoft’s cross-disability employee resource group to empower and enable people with disabilities.
Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Microsoft disability Scholarship, applicant 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.
- 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.
Offered Benefits
The amount of this renewable scholarship to be awarded is $5,000 per year, up to $20,000. The scholarship is paid through the Seattle Foundation on behalf of the disability Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Microsoft to the recipient’s school’s Financial Aid Office.
Application Process
To apply for a Microsoft disability Scholarship, print and fill out the application. Enclose it in an envelope with the following items:
- Résumé. Your résumé should include the following information:
-Extracurricular activities (school and community related)
-Honours 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.)
- Complete Application Form: Fill out the entire Application Form at the end of this page. You can type the information or print clearly. When you are done, print Sections I and II of the Application Form and make sure that you sign and date the verification on the 4th page.
- Mail completed applications by March 15
