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 connect with the Helen Fellows (undergraduate computing majors at Georgia Tech) to engage in fun community activities and learn about life as a college student.
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 transportation stipends to offset the costs for commuting to campus and parking while on campus for the coding and research classes.
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 computing research led by the Faculty Mentors and their graduate students.
- Interact in small peer groups with 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.
BridgeUP STEM leads to a greater awareness of computing career opportunities and the pathways to get there. Plus, Scholars gain the skills, confidence, and inspiration to pursue their computing career pathways, especially careers in computing research.
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 if you are under the age of 18.
- Submit your application no later than 5 pm ET on Friday, March 1, 2024.
- Applications are reviewed by personnel from Georgia Tech and NCWIT. Selection of the Scholars is made by the BridgeUP STEM team at their sole discretion.
2024 – 2025 Time Commitments
Summer 2024:
- Attend BridgeUP STEM Scholars coding class from June 3-28, 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 and college admissions and financial aid workshops will be built into the summer coding class schedule.
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025:
- Attend the research class led by BridgeUP STEM faculty mentors, their graduate student teams, and their Helen Fellows on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 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 community events per semester with the Helen Fellows and other BridgeUP STEM Scholars.
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 2024-2025 academic year.
- Is able to commute to the Georgia Tech campus for the summer coding course and the after-school research class during the 2024-2025 academic year.
- 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 3-28, 9am-3pm, Monday-Friday, with the exception of June 19.
- Research class taught on campus on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 pm and virtually on Sundays from 2-4:30 pm during the academic year.
- For the Tuesday classes, a light dinner will be provided from 5:30-6:00pm. Class will begin promptly at 6pm.
- Applicants must be able to complete the entire program spanning from June 2024-April 2025.
- Agrees to participate in other program components including Scholar-Helen Fellow small group activities 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 which is essential in order to receive the $1000 stipend.
- 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 Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement, Georgia Tech Student Expectation Contract, Georgia Tech Medical Release and Emergency Contact Form, 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?
See also
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.