Information Technology

Information Technology Scholarships and Grants

“The Internet is a giant international network of intelligent, informed computer enthusiasts, by which I mean, “people without lives.” We don’t care. We have each other.” ~Dave Barry

A student looking to this profession as a career is analytical and flexible. IT professionals will be in high demand for the foreseeable future and this is an excellent career choice.

IT Career Education

Ideal qualifications for this career are a Bachelor Degree or higher in Network Engineering, or a Bachelor Degree or higher in the Sciences, majoring in Networking/Telecommunications and/or Electrical Engineering. Various certifications are also available within the different IT specializations.

IT professionals are people prepared to re-certify repeatedly in order to stay ahead of current trends. This job is right for a person who enjoys the challenges of a rapidly changing industry. Many IT industry providers offer scholarship opportunities to students wanting to pursue a career in this lucrative field. As with most scholarships some of these are available specifically for women or visible minorities and some to the public. Because IT is a rapidly expanding field, and the way of the future, many philanthropists are happily investing in IT students.

IT Scholarship Providers:

Library & Information Technology Association

http://www.lita.org/ala/mgrps/divs/lita/litaresources/litascholarships/litascholarships.cfm

LITA/LSSI Minority Scholarship in Library and Information Technology

Established in 1994, this scholarship is awarded annually by the Library and Information Technology Association, a division of the American Library Association, and Library Systems and Services Inc. The scholarship is designed to encourage the entry of qualified persons into the library and automation field who plan to follow a career in that field and who are qualified members of a principal minority group (American Indian or Alaskan native, Asian or Pacific Islander, African-American, or Hispanic). The scholarship award is worth $2 500 for successful applicants.

LITA/Christian (Chris) Larew Memorial Scholarship in Library and Information Technology

This generous award is given to students annually in the amount of $3 000, by the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of the American Library Association, and Informata.com. The scholarship is designed to encourage the entry of qualified persons into the library and information technology field, who plan to follow a career in that field, and who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a vision in pursuit of library and information technology. This scholarship is for study in an ALA Accredited Master of Library Science (MLS) program.

Xerox Scholarship

http://www.xeroxstudentcareers.com/why-xerox/scholarship.aspx

Xerox is committed to the academic success of all minority students (xerox.com). That’s why they offer a Technical Minority Scholarship that awards between $1 000 and a big $10 000 to qualified minorities enrolled in a technical degree program at the bachelor level or above.

Foundation for Information Technology Education

http://www.edfoundation.org/scholarships.htm

The Foundation currently provides scholarship funds, or assists in the scholarship award process, for the following programs:

• The Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship — a national scholarship, awarded annually, supports university students seeking an education in an accredited degree program related to information technology.
• The Dave Sanders Memorial Scholarship — The Mile High Chapter (Denver) of AITP established this award program to honor the memory of Dave Sanders, a computer lab and business instructor at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, who was among those killed on April 20, 1999. Awarded annually, it provides grants of tuition and book aid to qualified graduating Columbine High School seniors who intend to pursue an IT-related college degree.
• The Harold Pool Memorial Scholarship — The Mile High Chapter (Denver) of AITP established this award program to honor the memory of the Chapter’s first president, Harold M. Pool. He was instrumental in founding the Chapter in 1952, and contributed to its success. Besides being quite active in the Chapter and the data processing community until his death in 2001, he mentored others, and really cared about their professional development and success. Scholarships are awarded annually to Chapter-affiliated college AITP student chapter members, and are intended to encourage those students whom the Chapter believes will continue Harold’s legacy.
• The Kevin Jetton Service Scholarship — a national scholarship, awarded annually, that supports university students seeking an education in an accredited degree program related to information technology. Exceptional service to fellow IT students/professionals plays a major role in the selection process for this scholarship. To be eligible, an applicant must be an active member of an AITP student chapter.
• The Sherry Anklam Memorial Award—The North-eastern Wisconsin Chapter of AITP established this award program to honor the memory of Sherry Anklam, a Chapter Past President who embodied all of the best values that this award is based on.
• The Foundation also works with the Association of Information Technology Professionals to support the scholarship selection process for the Robert Half Technology/AITP Student Scholarship program. These scholarships, awarded annually, are open to AITP student members. Selection criteria include demonstrated academic achievement, leadership activities, community service, and future career interests. The scholarship recipients are announced at the annual AITP National Collegiate Conference.

Information technology is obviously the wave of the future and this common knowledge is clearly reflected in the number of opportunities and scholarships available to students wishing to pursue a career in this field.