Microsoft disAbility Scholarship

The Seattle Foundation and the Disability at Microsoft Inclusion Network have established a scholarship program to assist current high school seniors who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs and pursuing various eligible areas of study.

Eligibility

Applicants to the Microsoft Disability Scholarship Program must:

• Be a current high school senior
• Plan to enroll in full-time or half-time undergraduate study at an accredited two or four-year college/university, or vocational-technical school, in the United States, for the entire upcoming academic year
• Pursue a degree in the following eligible majors: Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Law, Business, or related field – Paralegal, Pre-Law, Finance, Business Administration, or Marketing
• Demonstrate a passion for technology
• Demonstrate leadership at school and/or in the community
• Require financial assistance to attend college
• Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 grading scale or equivalent
• International students are eligible to apply if enrolling in a US college or university.
• Employees and children of employees of Microsoft are ineligible.

Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $5,000 award for students enrolled full-time or half-time. Up to 11 awards will be granted.

Awards are renewable up to three years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, on the basis of satisfactory academic performance maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, full-time or half-time enrollment, and continued enrollment in the eligible major.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Notification

All applicants will be notified in June.

Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.

Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address as safe senders in your email contact list.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of The Seattle Foundation. Payment is made in early August. Payments are made payable to the school and mailed to the school.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

• Academic record
• Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
• Work experience
• A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
• Unusual personal or family circumstances
• An essay
• An online recommendation

Financial need will be considered. Recipients must demonstrate need.

Selection of finalists is made by Scholarship America. Microsoft will select recipients. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

1. *Essay Topic

Please share your idea for a new technology innovation that would enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Explain how it differs from existing solutions and how it relates to your plans to be engaged in the technology industry. (3,000 characters max)

Requirements

As part of your application, you must upload the following document(s):

• A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
• Student name
• School name
• Grades
• Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken
• Upper secondary school diploma or certificate, if earned (International applicants only)
• Results of examinations (International applicants only)
• English translations for any non-English documents

NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately.

One online recommendation form from a faculty or staff member at your school or a member of the community that has worked with you in a supervisory role must be submitted on your behalf no later than three business days after the application deadline date.

Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.