The Google 2008 Anita Borg Scholarship

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Dr. Anita Borg (1949 - 2003) devoted her adult life to revolutionizing the way we think about technology and dismantling barriers that keep women and minorities from entering computing and technology fields. Her combination of technical expertise and fearless vision continues to inspire and motivate countless women to become active participants and leaders in creating technology.

As part of Google's ongoing commitment to furthering Anita's vision, we are pleased to announce the 2008 Google Anita Borg Scholarship, through which we hope to encourage women to excel in computing and technology and become active role models and leaders.

Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of candidates' academic background and demonstrated leadership. A group of female undergraduate and graduate student finalists will be chosen from the applicant pool. The scholarship recipients will each receive a $10,000 scholarship for the 2008-2009 academic year. Remaining finalists will receive $1,000 each.

All scholarship recipients and finalists will be invited to visit Google headquarters in Mountain View, California on April 3-5, 2008 for a networking retreat which will include workshops with a series of speakers, panelists, breakout sessions and social activities.

Candidates must:

be entering their senior year of undergraduate study or be enrolled in a graduate program in 2008-2009 at a university in the United States.
be Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field majors.
be enrolled in full-time study in 2008-2009.
maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or 4.5 on a 5.0 scale or equivalent in their current program.

Complete the online application form and submit the requested documentation via mail. All applications must be postmarked by Friday, February 1, 2008.

Finalists will be notified in March 2008. As the final step in the scholarship selection process, all finalists will have phone interviews with representatives from the Google Selection Committee. Scholarship recipients will be selected from the finalists.

Interviews for internships or full time opportunities are separate from scholarship phone interviews.

Step One:

Complete the online application. You will be asked to fill in the following:

Name
Email
Current Address & Phone Number
Degrees held, universities, majors, and dates of graduation
GPA (in current program)
Updated copy of your resume
Answers to the following short essay questions:
1. Describe a significant computer science project you have worked on. If you have worked on a major independent research project (such as research for a graduate program), please describe that work here. Give an overview of the problem and your approaches to the key technical challenges. If this was a group effort, be sure to specify your individual role and contributions.
2. Give one or two examples of your leadership abilities. Explain how you were influential and what you were trying to achieve. These need not be demonstrated through formal or traditional leadership roles. Think broadly and examine the many ways you are having an effect on the members of your technical community.
3. Suppose someone gave you the funding and resources for a 3- to 12-month project to investigate a technical topic of your choice. Write a short version of a proposal, including a description of the project, your planned methodology, and your expected results. Please pick something other than the project you described for the first question.
4. Suppose you are given $1,000 to plan an event or project to benefit women in technical fields. Describe your motivation for choosing the event or project, what you would do, and what impact it would have.
* Suggested count for each question is 400-600 words.

All online information must be received by Friday, February 1, 2008.

Ready to apply? To launch the online application, select the appropriate form based on your current education level:

I am an undergraduate student
I am in my first year of a graduate program
I have been in a graduate program for 2 to 4 years (i.e., second year Masters program, up to second year of PhD program)
I am in my third year or more of a PhD program

Step Two:

In addition to completing the online application, you are required to mail the following documents:

Official Transcripts
Undergraduates: A copy of your current academic record
Graduates: A copy of your undergraduate and current academic record
Recommendation Letters
Two referral letters from individuals who are qualified to evaluate your academic and leadership accomplishments, preferably on official letterhead. Please print and give the following recommendation overview to your two referrers. It includes a description of the scholarship and suggested focal points for your letter of recommendation.

All documents must be postmarked by Friday, February 1, 2008.

Please send your transcripts and recommendation letters to:

* For specific questions not answered on this page or in the FAQ section, please e-mail anitaborgscholars@google.com.

Anita Borg believed that technology affects all aspects of our economic, political, social and personal lives. A technology rebel with a cause, in her life she fought tirelessly to ensure that technology's impact would be a positive one. It was this vision that inspired Anita in 1997 to found the Institute for Women and Technology. Today this organization continues on her legacy and bears her name, The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (www.anitaborg.org).

Her capacity to mix technical expertise and a relentless vision inspired, motivated and moved women to embrace technology instead of avoiding or ignoring it. She has touched and changed the lives of countless women in the computing fields and beyond. She is responsible for including women in the technological revolution – not as bystanders, but as active participants and leaders. In 1987, prior to founding the Institute, Anita began an email online community called Systers which today has 3,000 members from all over the world. In 1994, Anita co-founded the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. The Grace Hopper Celebration has grown to become the largest gathering of women in computing in the world. The Anita Borg Institute is the umbrella organization for both of these ongoing programs as well as the Virtual Development Center, TechLeaders and a host of other dynamic partnerships and collaborations that embrace Anita's ongoing vision.

During her life, Anita's commitment to her vision and expertise in the field gained her significant recognition. In 1999 President Clinton appointed her to the Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology. In 2002, she received the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy, and Employment.

Born Anita Borg Naffz on January 17th, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, She grew up in Palatine, Illinois, Kaneohe, Hawaii, and Mukilteo, Washington. Anita found her way to a computer keyboard in her mid-20s. She received a Ph.D. in computer science from the Courant Institute at New York University in 1981. She then embarked on a brilliant research career for some of industry's commercial giants including, Nixdorf, Digital/Compaq's Western Research Lab and Xerox PARC.