Scholarship Description
The mission of DisAbility Scholarship at Microsoft is to empower and enable high schools students with disabilities to (a) go to college, (b) realize the impact technology has on the world, and (c) target a career in the technology industry. A primary goal of this scholarship is to increase the pool of persons living with a disability enrolling in higher education and, in long term, decrease the unemployment bias for this demographic.
This scholarship will identify promising high school seniors who have potential to enter and successfully complete a vocational or academic college program and have a financial need. The amount of this non-renewable scholarship to be awarded is $5,000, which 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.
All candidates must be high school students living with a disability who plan to attend a 2 to 4 year University or College program, maintain a cumulative 3.0 CPA or equivalent and have declared a major from the approved list (see scholarship guidelines on application) .
Requirements
To be considered for the Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship, you must:
To apply for the Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship, the student must meet the following guidelines:
- Be a current high school senior with living with a disability (as defined by WHO), whether that be visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive or speech.
- 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, legal or in businessthat are approved (ie. 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
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)
- Honors and awards that you have received (if possible, include awards that are technology related)
- Work experience
Picture of yourself.
Transcript. 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 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 to the following address by March 15th. Selection will be complete, and those selected to receive the Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship will be notified by April 15th.
The Seattle Foundation
c/o Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship
1200 – 5th Avenue, Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98101
scholarships@seattlefoundation.org
Download the Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship application (Microsoft Word document, 144 KB)
How to donate to the Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship Fund
Thank you for supporting the Microsoft DisAbility Scholarships.
All donations are accepted at: www.seattlefoundation.org/microsoftdisabilityscholarship
Microsoft employees may donate via //GIVE.
