The Epitec Scholars Program is a competitive process based on merit and extra circular activities. Scholarship funds can be used for tuition, books or living expenses. Eligible students must have focus on the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics. Candidates must be a graduating high school senior or currently enrolled at an accredited post-secondary institution for the Fall of 2013, and have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Each applicant was asked to complete an Application Form, supply their most recent transcript/grade report with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, list activities and groups they have consistently participated in and any leadership roles, awards or recognitions received and in 200 words or less explain why you have chosen to pursue your particular field of study or career choice.
Due to the volume of applications this year, Epitec is delighted to award two $500 scholarships. Check out the winners below along with their explanation on why they have chosen to pursue a STEM career choice:
Bridget Johnson, Neuroscience, University of Michigan
Daughter of Epitec Employee Mark Johnson
My dream is to be a geriatric 
neurologist or occupational therapist and this is how it all started…
When I was ten, I wanted to be an actress. I thought I knew what I would do with the rest of my life. But at thirteen, I realized that most actresses never realize their dreams, and unless I was extraordinarily lucky, it would not be my career. Then in high school, I joined a mime troupe. We entertained at parties, auctions, local events and nursing homes. It was the people at the nursing homes that changed my life. Now, to be honest, most people don’t really enjoy mimes that much, but the seniors loved us. Maybe this was because appreciating a mime performance isn’t dependent on the ability to hear or process language. We were like rock stars. We nourished their souls.
This may not seem like a logical progression, but this experience lead me toward a career in healthcare. I am a second year student at the University of Michigan majoring in neuroscience and plan on specializing in either geriatric neurology or geriatric occupational therapy. I want to take care of the elderly people’s health, the way my mime troupe and I took care of their souls.
Ankur Save, Computer Science/Information Technology and Informatics, Rutgers University
Son of Epitec Employee Rajesh Save
I have always been fond of creating things. Even if it was something as simple as making toy cars in kindergarten, I was always fascinated with the process of constructing objects from their component parts. This caused me to be immediately drawn to computer science, when I was introduced to it in high school. Starting from simple algorithms and android applications, I worked my way up to things like robotics and machine learning. This allowed me to participate in a couple student robotics world championships.
Today, with everyone carrying around computers in their pockets, there’s so much potential for growth in the field. There is also a great deal of knowledge about the subject now easily available, and there are many opportunities to apply it. For example, I’m currently working with a team to build an autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle that Rutgers is entering into an international competition. This is an amazing learning experience; the more I learn about computer science, the more I’m sure that it’s the right vocation for me. I hope to help fulfill the demand for computer scientists that will surely arise in our increasingly computer oriented world.