FIRST Scholarships Still Available!

[Amanda Morrison]

Think all of the FIRST scholarship deadlines have passed? Think again! There are still four colleges offering scholarships - check out these opportunities!

DeVry University - Full Tuition and Half Tuition
DeVry University is offering two full-tuition and 15 half-tuition FIRST Scholar Awards to 2005 FIRST Robotics participants! FIRST Scholar Awards are available to 2005 high school or community college graduates. Students must be registered participants in the 2005 FIRST Robotics competition. DeVry University FIRST Scholar Awards are intended for students who wish to pursue a degree on a full-time basis at DeVry in the United States. The extended deadline to apply is July 1, 2005. For more information, please call 877-70-DEVRY or email us at scholarships@devry.edu.

Olin College of Engineering
Olin College offers full tuition ($130,000) scholarships to all admitted students, and will do so in perpetuity. In their admission process, Olin College recognizes and values the commitment of candidates who have participated in FIRST. Applicants to Olin must apply online by January 6, 2006.

Schoolcraft College Scholarship Award
In partnership with FIRST, the Schoolcraft College Foundation is committed to granting at least one annual, merit-based scholarship (valued at $1,500), to a high school senior(s) who has participated on a FIRST team and is pursuing an associate degree in technology (includes engineering, computer science and graphics) at Schoolcraft College. The cost of a full time education at Schoolcraft is approximately $2,500-$3,000 (including books). Preference will be given to those applicants who reside in the Schoolcraft's Michigan service area of - Livonia, Garden City, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Northville, Northville Township, Canton Township and Novi. Schoolcraft College's commitment will be renewable annually. Applications should be received by June 30, 2005, for the next academic year. Applications may be secured through the Schoolcraft College Foundation, 18600 Haggerty Road, Livonia, MI 48152.

University of Michigan Scholarship Award
In a partnership with FIRST and Delphi Automotive Systems, The University of Michigan College of Engineering is awarding a $15,000 scholarship payable over 4 years. Top students admitted to the University of Michigan College of Engineering for the Fall 2005 Semester will be considered. The application deadline is May 31, 2005.

There are also scholarships available from the Indiana Robotics Invitational.

Indiana Robotics Invitational Scholarships
Multiple $1000 Scholarships will go to the selected graduating senior students from FIRST Robotics Teams competing at the 2005 IRI. The students must have either attended an Indiana High School or be currently accepted for the fall 2005 semester at an Indiana college or university. The student does not have to be in attendance, but his or her team must be competing at the IRI. Any college major is eligible for these scholarships. Entry requirements are:
1. A 500 word essay on how FIRST participation has impacted your life.
2. A reference from a Mentor, Engineer or Teacher on your team.
3. A reference from one other adult.
Once the essay is complete, please email it to IRIScholar@IndianaFIRST.org no later than July 1, 2005.

Please look over these opportunities! Good luck to all who apply!

[Captain Rich]

Shush, I'm trying for the U of M scolarship! Everyone else, go away. When money is involved, sorry, but I get a little more competitive.

[Keith Chester]

Come on guys, apply to these scholarships! Even if you don't think you have a chance.

If not for your own future than for FIRST's. Imagine how school boards will treat robotics teams versus football teams if students in your school start bringing home nice big scholarships.

[Shu Song]

I made the mistake of NOT checking the scholarships page in the FIRST website earlier. All the non-college-specific scholarships are gone. All you current juniors reading this, please don't take applying for scholarships lightly as I did.

[Joe Matt]

Same here man, make sure to check out the scholarships all throughout the summer and fall! Also as a reminder for those who don't want to apply, many technical scholarships can get you a co-op or internship at a company sponsoring the scholarship!

[Ryan Dognaux]

If you really want scholarships, you have to apply for like a million of them to have a good chance. I applied for a decent amount of scholarships and just received one from the robotics team, so apply like crazy if you want a substantial amount of your college paid through scholarships.

[Amanda Morrison]

FIRST has just sent out an email blast:

Frontiers Robotics Course at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

This will be the 4th year we have conducted this 2-week residence course on campus at WPI. As usual, the course is structured with WPI’s hands-on, project-based approach in mind. Using the new VEX robots (for the first time modified for pneumatics, programming ease, and autonomy) and some of Team 190’s 14 year’s worth of FIRST robots, students will learn about such topics as DC Motors, Materials, Pneumatics, Power Transmission, Mechanisms, Controls, Sensors, Programming, and Machining Techniques through seminars and integrated lab sessions.

New this year will be an increased emphasis on Sensors (e.g. ultrasonic, infrared, advanced yaw devices, artificial vision), Autonomous Operations, and Vehicle Driveline Dynamics (e.g. holonomic drive, mecanum wheels). The program schedule provides a true college-life experience with many recreational activities and a final head-to-head robot tournament.

More good news this year is that we are offering increased enrollment and will accept applications until May 31, 2005. If you hurry we still have a couple of $500 scholarships available for applicants with FIRST experience. For further info: http://www.admissions.wpi.edu/Frontiers/study.html or just email me, Ken Stafford, at stafford@wpi.edu.

Take advantage of this opportunity!

[AmyPrib]

Forgive me if this is posted elsewhere, but I did search.

2006 scholarships opportunities are up.

http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/scholsh.htm

There are many that are still waiting to be updated for '06, but some are up. Take advantage!

[Amanda Morrison]

We will have this information up on CollegiateFIRST within the week, so you can also learn about the college and the scholarship in one convenient place.

Students, PLEASE take advantage of the FIRST scholarships! I am still willing to proofread any submissions given to me. Every year there are scholarships that go unaccounted for... don't lose on this great opportunity!

[Nimmy]

are this scholarships also available for foreign students?
also are the ones currently up only available for students who compete in the 05 events
or also if I am about to compete in the 06' events?

thank you.

[AmyPrib]

Originally Posted by Nimmy

are this scholarships also available for foreign students?
also are the ones currently up only available for students who compete in the 05 events
or also if I am about to compete in the 06' events?

thank you.

Here's the link to 2006 scholarships.
http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2006...hipsummary.htm

Not all have been updated yet from '05.

If you are interested in a particular school who is offering a scholarship, read the description to see what is required or what is restricted. Some (like the first one listed) aren't for a particular school, persay, but have certain restrictions, like type of degree. Some have restrictions like age, yrs in FIRST, home location, admission to a college, etc. There should be contact information in each scholarship description or application if you have questions that weren't answered in the document.
Good luck!

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by Amanda Morrison

FIRST has just sent out an email blast:

Frontiers Robotics Course at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

I did this program two years ago, and I had a BLAST!!! we did some really crazy stuff (taking apart a CVT and then explaining how it works, etc) and we got to drive some of WPI's old robots! I still keep in touch w/ Ken Stafford and a buch of my other friends (on other teams) that I met there! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

[Greg McCoy]

I just wanted to remind those seeking scholarships that the deadlines may be coming up very soon. In the midst of building your robot, this can be easy to forget. Some scholarships (including the Boilermaker Regional ones) are due by February 1, 2006!

Make sure you give your references enough time to write you a good recommendation. And by all means, please apply! You never know what you might win

Official FIRST Scholarship List

Good luck!

[Kirk]

Does first offer any scholarships to mentors that are in college? I could defiantly use the money.

Thanks
Kirk

[Sgraff_SRHS06]

I wish the schools I applied to had FIRST scholarships, but unfortunately they don't. And one school is actually ticking me off, namely Drexel.