Intel Scholarships

The Microchip Company that Started a Revolution

It is rare to have an entire set of scholarships related to one company, but in the case of Intel it is not surprising. The name Intel as we know it has been so successful since its inception in 1968 that it is now basically synonymous with IT. The computing world that we know and rely on today would probably not exist had Bob Noyce and Gordon Moore not been there to create the “world’s first” semiconductor in 1969, only one year after they founded Intel. Silicon was already the product most used for such inventions, but Intel was the first to break ground in what is now casually known as Silicon Valley in California, a hub of technology and electronic innovation.

While Apple and Microsoft founders fiddled with computing gadgetry in garage workshops and made their own significant marks on the industry, Intel was off doing its own thing. By then, they were already producing microprocessors with advanced instruction sets from factories in Asia. Intel, along with competitors Motorola, Texas Instruments, and IBM, collectively drove the rapid reinvention of new microchips and therefore brand new technologies.

We have this vanguard to thank for the array of studies in computer science and IT in colleges today. With Intel’s history of innovation and persistence in mind, it makes sense that the company would now offer a host of scholarships to the future ground breakers who will continue to expand the field of technology and computer development. Intel is able to act as a huge benefactor to the next generation of researchers, and may have something to offer you.

Intel Foundation

The Intel Foundation is the component of the larger Intel corporation where company responsibility, service and philanthropic efforts are focused. Of primary interest to Intel’s altruistic nature is international education. The Foundation’s Higher Education Program delivers technical and monetary support to over 150 universities all over the world. Their program is an invitation-only opportunity for each institution to vamp up its tech programs as well simultaneously turning out highly advanced scholars. Participating institutions often become regional hotspots for IT research and academia.

Naturally, this kind of large-scale philanthropy is also clearly focused on recruiting the next-generation of research gurus that will be key to the future of Intel’s work in the microprocessor and semiconductor industry. Intel has cleverly organized their scholarships and gifts so that they fund deserving schools and individuals and secure their own promising future at the same time.

Scholarships Inspire Next-Gen Researchers

As a vital part of their Higher Education Program, and most likely the aspect that will be of most interest to you as a student, Intel offers several scholarship programs for those who are brilliant, accomplished and committed to the pursuit of advanced computer innovation. These programs are a crucial facet of Intel’s giving back to the community.

There are possibilities at all levels, starting with incentives for high-school seniors and leading up to doctoral fellowships. Take a look at the options and consider whether any of these generous awards from Intel would be right for you.

• The Intel Foundation Ph.D. Fellowship Program awards doctoral scholars whose work in advanced computing and/or engineering is exemplary. Eligible candidates must be the best of the best and currently engaged in research projects at participating institutions in the U.S. The advantage of this program is that recipients of the award are able to glean advice and counsel from Intel experts while working on their projects. This mentorship will be invaluable to the motivated Ph. D. student.
• Intel offers three graduate fellowships at selected universities in the US to promote the studies of those engaged in computer science, engineering, and other technological majors focus on microprocessing, software and communications. Students may not apply for these fellowships, but must contact the appropriate department of their school to find out if they are a participant in the program. Recipients of these awards may also be able to complete an internship with Intel simultaneously.
• Intel’s Science Talent Search challenges high school seniors to produce cutting edge projects that demonstrate a highly evolved synthesis of both educational process and technical ability, primarily through mathematics and the sciences. This program has been an annual institution for pre-college techies for well over half a century. Over 300 scholarships are awarded: the first place winner earns a whopping $100,000 to go toward their college tuition. Awards drop incrementally through tenth place, which makes off with a comparatively modest $20,000. The remaining winners each get $1,000. The top 10 winners also take a brand new laptop to campus with them. This talent search is extremely generous and brutally competitive.
• Finally, Intel collaborates with a couple of organizations – specifically, the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (GEM) and the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) – to bring graduate funds to minorities and women in the field. Contact these institutions for more information on these uniquely targeted prizes.

In your applications for these awards, be as specific as possible about what you are working on right now as well as any future projects and inventions. Impress the judges with the direct implications of your capabilities in computer science, and you may have a chance at these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities from Intel.