UWM offers full-ride scholarships to increase diversity in tech education

MILWAUKEE_The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is offering multiple full-ride scholarships for incoming freshmen from Milwaukee high schools in Fall 2022. The Anu and Satya Nadella Scholarships, for students who are pursuing degrees in computer science, data science and information technology, are part of a $2 million gift from UWM alumnus and Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella and Anu Nadella. The Nadellas seek to help create new opportunities for students from Milwaukee’s marginalized and underserved communities.

The new scholarships, specifically for students who graduate from Milwaukee high schools, provide financial and academic support, and cover tuition, fees, room and board for 12 to 15 students for up to five years. Each recipient will be assigned a dedicated success coach, an academic advisor and a peer mentor, and will be provided additional tutoring and support opportunities to lead to successful student outcomes.

High career demand, high financial need

According to a recent report from Code.org, Wisconsin has about 9,700 open computing jobs each month, with an average salary of more than $80,000. Yet there were only 1,261 graduates in computer science in the state in 2018.

“Approximately 75% of our students need financial assistance to attend college,” UWM Associate Vice Chancellor Kay Eilers said. “We are deeply grateful to Satya and Anu Nadella for their support, enabling our students to pursue their dreams and opportunities in these high-demand tech fields.”

Earlier this year, the Nadellas’ gift established the Fund for Diversity in Tech Education at UWM, which supports the university’s efforts to recruit, retain and graduate undergraduate students from marginalized and underserved communities, preparing them with the skills to pursue careers in computer science, data science and information technology. The new Anu and Satya Nadella Scholarships are part of a larger initiative that includes support for pre-college programming and emergency grants to help students successfully complete their degrees.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.