Are You a Washingtonian Woman in STEM? The 2021 WISE Scholarship is Now Accepting Applications

Dr. Alexander Sobel is pleased to announce that the application period for the fifth annual WISE Scholarship has officially begun. The WISE (Women in STEM Excel) Scholarship was created by Dr. Sobel to help empower women in Washington state who are pursuing an education in science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics.

Developed in 2017, the WISE Scholarship has already awarded four remarkable women with $1,500 each in scholarship funds: Angela Flores-Marcus, a student in Seattle University’s electrical engineering program, Simran Handa, a student of biochemistry and molecular biology at Lewis & Clark College, Acacia Arielle, a student of geophysics at Western Washington University, and, most recently, Merrill Keating, a student at the University of Washington studying mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence.

What changes have been made to this year’s scholarship?

This year, Dr. Sobel is excited to share several improvements to the WISE scholarship program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. First, the award amount has increased from $1,500 to $3,500 as a way to further ease the financial burden for its recipients and offset the rising costs of postsecondary education.

In response to the economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s award has increased from $1,500 to $3,500.

Additionally, the application period has been extended from three months to five months in order to broaden the application pool during this fragile and pivotal time when enrollment in undergraduate education across the country has seen a rapid decline.

Can I apply for the WISE Scholarship?

The $3,500 WISE Scholarship is open to all Washingtonian women interested in pursuing a career in a STEM field. That includes high school seniors, anyone considering returning to school, and everything in between.

We encourage you to apply if you meet the following criteria:

• You are a female student living in Washington State who plants to attend a college or university
• You are a student actively pursuing a degree (and planning a career) in a STEM-related field at a higher learning institution
• You are able to provide one letter of recommendation
• You will complete the application form and provide original essay answers

Eligible STEM subjects include chemistry, computer & information technology science, engineering, life sciences, mathematical sciences, physics, astronomy, social sciences, and STEM education and learning research. See a full list of eligible majors.

Scholarship details

The chosen applicant will receive $3,500, disbursed directly to them in the form of a cash prize. The award money is to be used toward tuition and educational expenses, including but not limited to textbooks, supplies, technology, on-campus dining, housing, and transportation.

The scholarship application period runs through 5pm PST on Friday, January 7th, 2022, at which point submitted applications will be reviewed by the Committee and a winner selected.

Click here to download and submit the application!

Dr. Sobel and the WISE Scholarship Committee look forward to seeing the exceptional applicants 2021 is sure to bring. Best of luck to all our applicants!