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 2014, 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, 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 they have chosen to pursue their particular field of study or career choice.
The Scholarship Committee has been very fortunate to receive many strong applications this year. We had a most difficult time in selecting this year’s scholarship recipient because of the high qualifications of the candidates. Therefore, 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:
Grace Kao, Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Daughter of Hung Chang
I used to think my favorite subject was math until last year. The first time I stepped into my computer science classroom, a sense of thrill and excitement overcame me. I didn’t know what to expect besides pages and pages of code that looked like some secret language from another planet. After displaying “Hello World” on my screen for the first time, I felt as if I had turned on a switch. I knew from that moment on that computer science is what I was made for and since then, my love for coding has grown exponentially. Every time “process completed” pops up after the long suspenseful seconds, I feel as if I have won the Super Bowl.
Every time Mr. Harrod gave us a problem to solve, it felt like I was given many puzzle pieces to put together. Immediately, I could see the end picture and the pieces would start to come together in my mind while transferring them onto the computer screen. I had never dealt with anything like this before. Nothing I did in math could compare to what I was doing there. From then on, I knew I was in the right place.
Dionne Harris, Computer Engineering, University of Michigan
Daughter of Darlene Harris
As a little girl, I was always enthralled with computers, VCR’s, and cell phones and how they work. It came natural to me and I was always the one my parents called on to program the VCR or set up their new cell phone and I want to continue that love of technology into adulthood. In a world where technology is one of the fastest growing industries, it was easy for me to continue this romance.
Technology’s goals are to make information more accessible and to keep the flow of communication socially, medically, and professionally smooth. Information Technology makes life easier, so I don’t foresee the need for computer engineering diminishing anytime soon. It’s of such a great interest to me because it also shows the nature of humanity in its efforts to strive for efficiency and evolution. I love the opportunity it provides for creativity and for turning unknown luxuries into a necessity of sorts. I look forward to a field in computer engineering so I can partake professionally, and hopefully contribute to its advancements.