About BridgeUP STEM Scholars
BridgeUP STEM Scholars are Atlanta-area high school students, representing all backgrounds, who identify as girls or non-binary individuals who have had minimal or limited access to coding education and are interested in pursuing careers in computing.
Scholars participating in the one-year program first take a four-week non-credit coding class taught on the Georgia Tech campus during the month of June. From September through April, they engage in a twice a week research class led by BridgeUP STEM Faculty Mentors, their graduate student teams, and their undergraduate Helen Fellows. The research class is taught one evening on campus and virtually on Sunday afternoons. Throughout the program, Scholars are mentored by Helen Fellows (undergraduate computing majors at Georgia Tech) and engage in fun community activities with others interested in STEM.
Participation in the program is free and Scholars receive a $1000 stipend for attending at least 90% of the coding and research classes. Scholars also receive MARTA passes or parking passes to cover parking expenses while on campus for class.
Scholars’ Opportunities that Enhance Future Computing Careers
- Increase their coding skills via the on-campus coding class.
- Establish their computing research knowledge through the interactive research class taught by Georgia Tech BridgeUP STEM Faculty Mentors, their graduate student teams, and their undergraduate Helen Fellows.
- Learn about and experience real world research projects led by the Faculty Mentors and their graduate students.
- Receive mentorship, in small peer groups, from the Helen Fellows who are undergraduate computing majors who are successfully navigating their classes while engaging in campus activities and leadership positions.
- Interact with computing researchers in academia and industry to gain an awareness of career opportunities and the pathways to achieve their career goals.
- Engage in fun community activities with others interested in STEM.
- Connect with the NCWIT’s Aspirations in Computing Community, a network of nearly 20,000 technical women in computing and engineering, by applying for the Award for Aspirations in Computing.
Application Process
- Although not required, we recommend that you ask a teacher, mentor, counselor, or administrator to nominate you and ask them to review your application before submitting it.
- To apply for BridgeUP STEM, please complete the online application. The application forms ask for information about yourself, your eligibility, and what you hope to gain from participation. Your parent or guardian must also complete a permission form.
- Submit your application no later than 2 am ET on Monday, April 17, 2023 (12 am MT on Sunday, April 16, 2023).
- Applications are reviewed by personnel from Georgia Tech and NCWIT. Selection of the Scholars is made by NCWIT and Georgia Tech representatives at their sole discretion.
2023 – 2024 Time Commitments
Summer 2023:
- Attend BridgeUP STEM Scholars coding class from June 5-30, 9am-3pm, Monday-Friday, with the exception of June 19
- At least 90% of the coding class sessions must be attended to receive the first third ($334) of the $1000 stipend.
- Community events, mentoring activities, and college admissions and financial aid workshops will be built into the summer coding class schedule.
- Periodic BridgeUP STEM – Helen Fellows virtual mentoring activities will take place during the summer.
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024:
- Attend the research class led by BridgeUP STEM faculty mentors, their graduate student teams, and their Helen Fellows on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 pm and virtually on Sundays from 2-4:30 pm during the academic year.
- At least 90% of the research class sessions must be attended each semester to receive the second and third installments ($333 per installment) of the $1000 stipend.
- Participate in two to three community events per semester with the Helen Fellows and other BridgeUP STEM Scholars.
- Engage in periodic virtual mentoring activities with the Helen Fellows.
Eligibility Requirements
- Is 13 years of age or older at the time of application submission.
- Identifies as a girl or non-binary individual.
- Enrolled in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade as of the start of the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Is able to commute to the Georgia Tech campus for the summer coding course and the after-school research internship during the 2023-2024 academic year. Please note that MARTA passes and campus parking garage passes will be provided to Scholars. If you have any transportation barriers, please note them in the application so we can work with you to alleviate transportation barriers as much as possible.
- Does not have extensive coding experience.
- Has an interest in pursuing a career in computing, especially as a computing researcher.
- Willing to commit to the one-year program and attend at least 90% of the coding and research classes:
- Coding class taught on the Georgia Tech campus from June 5-30, 9am-3pm, Monday-Friday, with the exception of June 19
- Research class taught on campus on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 pm and virtually on Sundays from 2-4:30 pm during the academic year.
- Agrees to participate in other program components including Scholar-Helen Fellow mentoring and community events.
- Is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or individual who meets the requirements of the substantial presence test.
- Has a U.S. Tax Identification or Social Security Number.
- Is not an NCWIT employee and has no immediate family relationship with employees, extended staff, contractors, or board members of NCWIT (including spouses, siblings, children, grandchildren, and persons residing in the same household).
Additional Required Paperwork if Selected
- Submit additional paperwork including NCWIT Participation Agreement, Georgia Tech Parental Request to Participate Release and Waiver Agreement, and W9. The request for these forms will be sent electronically via the secure DocuSign platform. Failure by Scholars and/or their parent(s) or guardian(s) to return the required additional paperwork within the allotted time may result in forfeiture of participation and all stipends hereunder.
- To the extent required by law, NCWIT will report the value of the stipend to the IRS on Form 1099. NCWIT may require additional hard-copy, notarized paperwork, at its discretion.
Do you have questions about BridgeUP STEM Scholars? Please contact the NCWIT BridgeUP STEM team at [email protected].
Interested in being a BridgeUP STEM Scholar?
Funding for the BridgeUP STEM program is provided by a generous grant from the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation to the National Center for Women & Information Technology.