A career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) is an excellent choice for students interested in making a difference in the world. Entrepreneur and CEO Dennis Bonnen agrees these fields are some of the most in-demand and well-paying occupations and offer the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research and projects that can change the world. For students planning to pursue a STEM career, many scholarships are available to help cover the cost of tuition and other expenses. In this article, we will take a look at five of the best scholarships for students interested in STEM careers.
What Is Stem?
STEM is an acronym for “science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.” These are the four fields that make up the core of many high-paying occupations. A STEM career can involve working in research and development, designing and building new products, managing large projects, or teaching others about science and math.
What Are The Different Stem Careers?
There are many different STEM careers, and the field is constantly evolving. Some of the most popular STEM occupations include:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Web Development
- Network Engineering
- Software Engineering
- Data Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Robotics
What Are The Benefits Of A Stem Career?
There are many benefits to pursuing a career in STEM. Some of these benefits include:
- High salaries: many STEM occupations are some of the highest-paying jobs in the country.
- Job security: the demand for workers in STEM fields is constantly growing, and there are more job openings than there are qualified candidates to fill them. This means that students who pursue a career in STEM can be confident that they will have plenty of job opportunities after graduation.
- Intellectual challenge: a STEM career is perfect for students looking for an intellectually stimulating occupation. These careers offer the opportunity to work on complex problems and find innovative solutions.
- Making a difference: many STEM careers involve working on projects that can positively impact the world. For example, engineers may work on developing new technologies that can help to reduce pollution or generate renewable energy sources.
Scholarships Available For Students Interested In STEM Careers
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is among the most prestigious and well-known scholarships in the United States. This scholarship is awarded to 250 high school seniors each year who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to service. The scholarship covers tuition and other expenses for four years of college or university.
The National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which serves as an initial screening of approximately 1.6 million entrants each year by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program
The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding low-income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian Pacific Islander American**, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose.
The Google Lime Scholarship Program
Google Lime Scholarship awards go to undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities currently enrolled at a university for computer science or related technical fields such as math or engineering. Selected students will receive 7,000 USD (for those studying in the United States) or 5,000 CAD (for those looking in Canada). In addition, each student will be paired with a Google mentor for added support throughout their studies.
The Microsoft Research Graduate Women’s Scholarship
Microsoft Research awards scholarships to outstanding women pursuing their Ph.D. who show great potential to become leaders of academia because of their aptitude for research; however, there are only a limited number of scholarships awarded each year, so competition is fierce. Each scholarship is worth $20,000 USD per academic year and is renewable for up to three years while you complete your Ph.D. program.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Dennis Bonnen says The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines pursuing research-based masters and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.
Awardees receive three years of financial support during their graduate program, including an annual stipend of $34,000 along with a $12,000 education allowance for tuition and fees (paid directly to your institution), opportunities for international research experiences, and access to TeraGrid supercomputing resources among other benefits.
Final Thoughts
Many different scholarships are available for students interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields. In this article, we have highlighted five of the best scholarships for students interested in STEM careers. Contact your college, university’s guidance counselor, or financial aid office for more information on these or other scholarships.
