Women in STEM Scholarship

We believe in addressing inequality in education. In recognition of the extraordinary potential of women in the sciences, we created the MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship. There’s no requirement to be an MPOWER borrower to apply! What are you waiting for?

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Empowering Women in STEM

In keeping with MPOWER’s commitment to empower high-potential global citizens to realize their educational aspirations — and become tomorrow’s leading scientists and innovators — this scholarship program focuses on women who will use their STEM degree to benefit society and the planet and who have the potential to serve as role models and advocates for women in STEM.
The National Center for Education Statistics reported that 32 percent of STEM degrees in the U.S. were awarded to women in one year. Women majoring in computer engineering, nuclear science, and software development, amongst others, should not have to find funding their dream a challenge. In addition, the Society of Women Engineers found that gender inequities are especially pronounced in engineering and computer science, with just 20 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering and computer science held by women.
For MPOWER’s CEO and co-founder Manu Smadja, these statistics represent a social challenge to address. “It’s critical for us as a society to have a meaningful representation of women shaping the science and technology of tomorrow. The world may look a lot different if we do a better job at enabling female talent to shape the technologies transforming healthcare, education, transportation, or cities for instance. By helping talented female students study and work in North America, we’re helping close the gender gap in the STEM workforce. But we’d like to do much more, and starting this new scholarship program for Women in STEM is yet another way to level the playing field.”

“It’s critical for us as a society to have a meaningful representation of women shaping the science and technology of tomorrow. By helping talented female students study and work in North America, we’re helping close the gender gap in the STEM workforce.”    

Manu Smadja, MPOWER CEO and co-founder

Past Recipients of MPOWER’s Women in STEM Scholarship

These amazing students are ready to take on the world and inspire others

Miki Mura

Women in STEM Scholarship – 2022

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Winners' stories

Miki is a Ph.D. student studying Petroleum Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. “My research will help assure that women are working on our society’s biggest challenges. I hope to inspire other international female students in STEM fields to take the next big step forward to their next career!”

Alli Abosede Sarah

Women in STEM Scholarship – 2022

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Winners' stories

Alli is a Ph.D. Environmental Health Sciences student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. “This award will support my doctoral study financially as I strive to evaluate the health effects of air pollution in Africa with the goal of influencing environmental policy. As an international student, the MPOWER scholarship motivates me to continue mentoring women from similar background to foster diversity in STEM fields.”

Bristi Panja

Women in STEM Scholarship – 2022

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Winners' stories

Bristi pursues a Master’s degree in Innovation and Management. “It means an absolute honor, recognition and a tribute to all those times when giving up seemed like the only option, but I decided to push harder than ever. This award further consolidates my belief of, "Sky is the limit!”.

MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2024

Scholarships awarded annually to female international/DACA students who are currently enrolled or accepted to study full-time in a STEM degree program at a program MPOWER supports in the United States or Canada.

Awards:

  • Grand Prize: US$6,000
  • Runner-Up: US$2,000
  • Honorable Mention: US$1,000

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Be accepted at, or enrolled in, a full-time degree program at a U.S. or Canadian school that MPOWER supports, and
  • Be an international student allowed to legally study in the U.S. or Canada, as applicable:
    • For study in the U.S., this means that the applicant meets one of these criteria:
      • Has a valid visa that permits study in the U.S.
      • Is protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
      • Is a U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder)
    • For study in Canada, this means the applicant meets one of these criteria:
      • Is a Canadian permanent resident
      • Has a valid Canadian study permit

We have created this scholarship specifically for international and DACA students. Therefore, U.S. citizens wishing to study in the U.S. and Canadian citizens wishing to study in Canada are not eligible for this scholarship.

Apply for this Scholarship:

Women in STEM Scholarship Application

Deadline: June 30, 2024

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • You must be an international or DACA student to be eligible to apply. Please select DACA if applicable
  • To find out if MPOWER supports your school, please visit www.mpowerfinancing.com/get-a-loan/schools-we-support.
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • Choose all that apply. To select multiple options, hold the CTRL key and click the items.
  • Tell us how you’re contributing to a more inclusive, equitable and fair world through science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Our scholarship committee prioritizes applications that provide supporting examples and evidence of impact.
  • By selecting this checkbox your agree to our Terms of Service
    Applications without a completed essay will not be considered.
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Women In STEM Scholarship Details

FAQs

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be female
  • Be enrolled or accepted to study full-time in a STEM degree program at one of MPOWER’s partner universities for the remainder of the student’s undergraduate study and/or for a graduate degree program
  • Have one of the following immigration statuses:
    • For study at a U.S. partner college or university: F1 visa status, Green Card holder (permanent resident) status, or DACA recipient status
    • For study at a Canadian partner college or university: permanent resident or Canadian study permit holder
  • You do not need to be an MPOWER borrower or applicant to apply for the MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship as long as you meet the eligibility criteria set forth above.

We define this term broadly to include any program at an MPOWER partner university that will lead to a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in any field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. This would include any branch of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, physical sciences, agricultural science, computer science, data science, engineering, or applied or theoretical mathematics. This does not include medical or nursing programs, although we expect to launch a separate competition for Nursing Scholarships soon. Full a more complete listing of the types of programs that we would consider STEM, please use this list. However, because it is difficult to develop a comprehensive list of this fast-changing field of study, please note that MPOWER may include additional degree programs not on this list if the program has a clear nexus with an area of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

In order to reduce the burden on applicants, we only require you to submit a copy of your transcript (or admission letter) and proof of your citizenship, gender, and immigration status (i.e., your passport and visa) after we provisionally select you for award.

MPOWER will select winners based on:

• The quality of the applicant’s written essays; the essays should demonstrate clarity of thought, compelling goals and vision, and superior writing skills in English;
• The applicant’s record of academic and (if applicable) professional distinction;
• The applicant’s potential to make significant contributions in a STEM field that will benefit people and/or the planet; and
• The applicant’s track record and/or potential as a role model and advocate for women and girls in STEM.

Following MPOWER’s selection of winners, MPOWER will verify their eligibility. Following such verification, all winners will be sent a Release. Following MPOWER’s receipt of a winner’s executed Release, MPOWER will disburse the funds directly to the winner’s college/university, subject to the requirements of any applicable U.S. or Canadian laws. In the event that a winner cannot be verified, or fails or refuses to execute the Release, such person becomes ineligible for the scholarship and MPOWER will select a replacement winner.

Terms & Conditions

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Only one entry per scholarship. By applying for the MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship, you agree to be bound by the official terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”).

Employees (including their immediate family [for e.g., spouse, parents, siblings, and children], and household members) of MPOWER Financing (the “MPOWER” ), its affiliates, subsidiaries and those of any agent, vendor, or supplier of MPOWER, are not eligible. Eligibility is contingent upon agreement to, compliance with, and fulfillment of all requirements set forth herein. Participation in the MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship constitutes an entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Terms and Conditions and MPOWER’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship. Where applicable, the MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

The Women in STEM Scholarship Program is open only to students who meet the following requirements:

The student must:

  • Be accepted at, or enrolled in, a full-time STEM degree program at a U.S. or Canadian school that MPOWER supports, and
  • Be a female international student allowed to legally study in the U.S. or Canada, as applicable.
    • For study in the U.S., this means that the applicant is either a U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, or has a valid visa that permits study in the U.S.
    • For study in Canada, this means the applicant is either a Canadian permanent resident or has a valid Canadian study permit.

You do not need to be an MPOWER borrower or applicant to apply for the MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship as long as you meet the eligibility criteria set forth above.

We have created this scholarship specifically for international and DACA students. Therefore, U.S. citizens wishing to study in the U.S. and Canadian citizens wishing to study in Canada are not eligible for this scholarship.

This Scholarship is sponsored by MPOWER Financing (“MPOWER”), Public Benefit Corporation, 1101 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036.

The Scholarship ends on June 30, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST. Only entries submitted and received during the Scholarship Period will be eligible. MPOWER is both the official timekeeper and final arbiter of eligibility for each Scholarship. For the Scholarship Period, three (3) Scholarship winners will be selected. The first-place winner will be awarded a US$6,000 MPOWER Scholarship to be applied to tuition, fees, or expenses at the winner’s school of attendance (each a “Prize”). Two additional winners will be awarded a US$2,000 scholarship and US$1,000 scholarship. Students (the “Entrants”) may enter the Scholarship once.

For any scholarship, only one entry will be accepted. Entrants must enter once during the Scholarship period. For each Scholarship, Entrants must fully complete and submit the online Scholarship entry form (an “Entry”) found at https://www.mpowerfinancing.com/scholarships/.

Any Entry that does not comply with these Terms and Conditions is void. All Entries become the property of MPOWER and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entry constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use entrant’s university name, state, country of origin, and/or essay question response for purposes of advertising, promotion, and publicity in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval. Any Entry found to contain erroneous, expired, canceled, fraudulent, or fake information is void. Only the actual student may participate in the MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship, and the completion of the online entry form by any family member or other individual or entity will disqualify such Entry from this Scholarship. Any attempt by any person to obtain more than one Entry by any means (including, but not limited to, the use of multiple email addresses, phone numbers, identities, registrations, or logins; or any other unauthorized method of entry) will result in such person’s automatic disqualification from the MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship. By submitting an Entry, you agree that MPOWER may, from time to time, communicate with you regarding products and services that it believes may be of interest to you.

Three (3) Scholarship winners will be selected. The first-place winner will be awarded a US$6,000 MPOWER Scholarship to be applied to tuition, fees, or expenses at the winner’s school of attendance (each a “Prize”). Two additional winners will be awarded a US$2,000 and a US$1,000 scholarship. Students (the “Entrants”) may enter the Scholarship once. There are no substitutions permitted for any awarded Prize. A Prize will only be awarded to the person submitting the Entry and may not be sold, assigned, or otherwise transferred (“Transfer”). Any Scholarship details or attempted Transfer shall be void. Any prize details not specified above will be determined by MPOWER in its sole discretion.

Entrants will be evaluated and selected based on:

  • The quality of the applicant’s written essays; the essays should demonstrate clarity of thought, compelling goals and vision, and superior writing skills in English;
  • The applicant’s record of academic and (if applicable) professional distinction;
  • The applicant’s potential to make significant contributions in a STEM field that will benefit people and/or the planet; and
  • The applicant’s track record and/or potential as a role model and advocate for women and girls in STEM.

MPOWER staff and/or contractors will first screen applications for eligibility. Then MPOWER staff and/or contractors will complete a first round of review. In this round, eligible applications will be screened for basic English spelling, grammar, and writing ability. Applications with extremely short or poorly written essays will be eliminated. In the second round, the remaining applications will be rated against each of the 4 selection criteria on a scale of 1-5  (equal weights applied). The ten applications with the highest aggregate score will be further scrutinized by a panel of judges, which may include MPOWER staff or members of the MPOWER social impact advisory board. The panel may select any of these 10 finalists for phone/Skype interviews. The panel will recommend a winner to the CEO, who will make the final selection decision according to the aforementioned selection criteria. MPOWER will then reach out to the winner and request a copy of her passport and visa to confirm eligibility (gender and STEM field), as well as an acceptance letter and/or transcript to confirm she is enrolled/accepted at a partner university.

As noted above, MPOWER Financing reserves the right to conduct interviews and/or request any additional information from any Entrants related to their Entry prior to decision. At a minimum, all selected winners will be required to provide a transcript and proof of citizenship and immigration status to verify that all eligibility requirements are met. All decisions (including but not limited to eligibility determinations) will be final and binding and are not subject to challenge or appeal. Prize awards are subject to MPOWER’s verification of winners’ eligibility. All winners will be required to submit (without alteration and in the form provided by MPOWER) a completed and signed Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability & Publicity Release (the “Release”). Winner’s failure to timely return an executed Release within the required time period to MPOWER will void a winner’s Prize award and the MPOWER reserves the right to award such Prize to an alternate entrant. Winners are solely responsible for the payment of any applicable federal, state, and local taxes associated with their acceptance and receipt of any Prize. Winners acknowledge that their Prize may be subject to U.S. or Canadian withholding, as applicable, and that they may be required to execute and return to MPOWER the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or Canadian equivalent.

All winners will be notified by telephone, email, and/or regular mail using contact information provided on their Entry. MPOWER shall have no liability for any winner notification that is lost, intercepted, or not received by the potential winner for any reason. If any potential winner does not respond within the time required by MPOWER, or if any winner notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable to a potential winner, or fails to timely return the Release to MPOWER, the Prize for that Scholarship will be awarded to an alternative winner selected by the Judges based on the results of the aforementioned judging criteria.

Following MPOWER’s verification of winner’s eligibility and receipt of the executed Release from a winner, MPOWER shall pay the Prize on winner’s behalf, directly to winner’s school of enrollment. MPOWER will not have any liability to winner in the event that winner’s school refuses, loses, fails to properly apply, or otherwise fails to credit any Prize (or portion thereof) for winner’s benefit.

Except where prohibited by law, Entrant agrees that: (1) all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with a Competition or any prize awarded will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate federal or state court located in the District of Columbia; (2) all claims, judgments, and awards will be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering a Competition, but in no event will include attorneys’ fees; and (3) Entrant will not be permitted to obtain awards for indirect, punitive incidental and consequential damage and any rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Terms and Conditions, or the rights or obligations of Entrant or MPOWER in connection with a Competition, are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, no matter what jurisdiction, that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than as stated.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Terms and Conditions will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, these Terms and Conditions will otherwise remain in effect in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was never included. The MPOWER’s failure to enforce any term of these Terms and Conditions does not constitute a waiver of that provision. The MPOWER may cancel, suspend, and/or modify a Competition or any part of it, in any way, if the MPOWER determines in its sole discretion that a Competition is not capable of executing as the MPOWER intended, or that any mistake, clerical, or typographical error, omission, fraud, technical failure, tampering, computer virus, or other factor, technical or otherwise, beyond the MPOWER’s reasonable control, impairs or may impair the MPOWER’s ability to properly conduct the Competition, subject to any applicable law or regulation.

Information collected from Entrants in connection with a Scholarship is subject to the MPOWER’s Privacy Policy.

The list of winners will be announced via email. In extenuating circumstances, MPOWER reserves the right to protect the privacy of scholarship recipients.

Though a Competition may be promoted via social media websites, such websites are not affiliated with the MPOWER or any Competition. No Scholarship is in anyway sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, or any other site or medium that might host content where information about a Competition is posted or published (collectively “Content Hosts”). Entrant is providing information only to the MPOWER and not to any Content Hosts.

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