ESA Foundation Scholarship Program

In 2007 the ESA Foundation established a scholarship program to assist women and minority students who are pursuing degrees leading to careers in Computer & Video Game Arts. In 2009 we extended this opportunity to graduating high school seniors and doubled the amount of awards granted from 15 to 30.

The scholarships are offered for full-time undergraduate study at accredited four-year colleges and universities in the USA.  Up to 30 scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded annually, 15 to graduating high school seniors and 15 to current college students.

Applicants must be:

• Women or minority students,
• Pursuing degrees leading to careers in computer and video game arts (high school seniors must already be accepted into a program),
• Enrolling or enrolled in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States,
• Maintaining a grade point average of 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent), and
• US citizens.

To apply online, please visit https://aim.applyISTS.net/esaf. Applications for the 2018-19 program will be accepted February 1 - April 26, 2018. Click on the Frequently Asked Questions link to learn more about the program and application process.

Be sure to check out Q&As with our past scholars to learn about how the ESA Foundation Scholarship helped them pursue their passion:

• Tré Lannon, University of Southern California
• Warren Lindsey, Savannah College of Art and Design

The ESA Foundation Computer and Video Game Scholarship Program is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS).

The University System of Maryland’s Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (USM LSAMP), sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) announces the opportunity for undergraduate scholars currently enrolled at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Frostburg State University, or Towson University to be awarded a stipend totaling $2500 over this coming summer. This award is to be used to support research training for undergraduate scholars who work with distinguished STEM faculty within the University System of Maryland. Applicants who conduct research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County are given best consideration

Applicants may apply for research opportunities in any of the following NSF-classified STEM disciplines: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics/Astronomy, or technology areas associated with the preceding fields (e.g., biotechnology, chemical technology, engineering technology, information technology).

Eligibility:

• To be eligible for the research stipend, applicants must be a US citizen or permanent resident at one of the aforementioned institutions. 
• The National Science Foundation provides funding for this program to broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities* who will be prepared to pursue STEM careers.
• We ask that undergraduate scholars completely fill out and submit the following USM LSAMP Research Program application form. Preferential consideration will be given to underclassmen who have less than 60 credits, as well as upperclassmen who have no previous research experience.
• Awardees will be required to present a research poster and/or a give a presentation of the project results at the USM LSAMP Fall Research Symposium at the University of Maryland, College Park. Research presentations at other conferences can be substituted with prior approval on a case-by-case basis. 
• A two-page written reflection will be required at the conclusion of the research experience. 
• Students are also encouraged to present at URCAD at UMBC or the Annual Research Symposium at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. 

Please note: The NSF USM LSAMP logo and funding disclaimer must be included on the poster or presentation.

The submitted application is due no later than Friday, May 4^th, 2018.

* This category comprises three racial or ethnic minority groups (blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians or Alaska Natives) whose representation in S&E education or employment is smaller than their representation in the U.S. population. (National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. 2017. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2017. Special Report NSF 17-310. Arlington, VA. Available at www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/.)

If you have any questions or you need assistance with your application, please contact Peter DeCrescenzo, peterd@umbc.edu.

Dating violence is an issue that plagues people across the world, and UMBC is no different. On March 24, a case of dating violence occurred when a UMBC student was assaulted by a non-student.

According to Deputy Chief of Police Paul Dillon, a male non-student allegedly assaulted a female student who he was previously in a relationship with on Walker Avenue. The female student sustained a very minor injury and required no medical treatment, but her phone and eyeglasses damaged by the perpetrator, which were both valued at about $1,000 each. He was later arrested by the UMBC Police and charged with one count of second degree assault and two counts of malicious destruction of property.

Dating violence is not a new issue, and for many UMBC students and staff, it is personal. On-campus organizations like Green Dot and the Women’s Center have been hard at work to combat issues like dating violence and provide resources to help victims of these issues.

According to the World Health Organization, about 30 percent of women worldwide who have been in a relationship report that “they have experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner in their lifetime.”

For women in college, statistics are much worse. In a poll carried out by Break the Cycle, an organization that targets abuse in relationships, found that 43 percent of dating college women reported “experiencing some violent and abusive dating behaviors including physical, sexual, tech, verbal or controlling abuse” and 22 percent of college women report physical/sexual abuse or threats of physical violence.

In order to prevent more incidents of dating violence and educate UMBC students on the issue, the Women’s Center is planning UMBC’s Take Back the Night 2018 on Thursday, April 12. In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the event plans to take back the night from abusers through a variety of events and activities for attendees that includes speakers (including those who were victims of dating violence and abuse), a campus march against sexual violence and a community resource fair with opportunities for students to express their support for the cause through different craft activities.

For concerned or threatened students, a variety of resources are available on campus. The Women’s Center is open 24/7 and the University Health Services offers a Peer Health Advocate program where “students work together with associated UHS staff to provide educational programming to residence halls, classes, sports teams and Greek organizations on a variety of issues relating to sexual violence including Consensual Sex, Dating Violence, Gender Stereotypes, and Risk Reduction of Sexual Assault, along with other health issues.”

For the non-student who was arrested, the future does not look as hopeful. According to Maryland State Law, if the non-student is convicted of second degree assault, he could face imprisonment for 10 years and/or a fine not exceeding $2,500. Maryland Law defines second degree assault as “any impairment of physical condition, excluding minor injuries.”

For the two malicious destruction of property charges, the non-student could be imprisoned for up to three years and/or be fined up to $2,500. The non-student could face up to 16 years in prison and $7,500 in fines.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

This is a combined training class for HR Hiring Liaisons, Hiring Managers and Search Committee Chairs.  Learn everything you will need to know to successful run a search in the PageUp system.