Orchard's Scholarship for Women of Color in STEM

In May 2022, Orchard announced that a first-generation high school senior had received an inaugural scholarship of $2,500 to subsidize educational costs of a neuroscience degree from Barnard College.

This year, Orchard awards scholarships of $500, $1,000 and $2,500 to three eligible and deserving students. 

2023 Women In STEM Scholarship Recipients

UPDATE: NEW YORK, May 10, 2022 - We’re so excited to announce the winners of Orchard’s second annual scholarship for Women in STEM. 

• 3rd place: Ailsa Sun from Castro Valley, CA
• 2nd place: An Li from El Paso, TX
• 1st place: Jessica Ong from San Diego, CA

Jessica is a current senior at Westview High School and will receive a one-time payment of $2,500 to subsidize educational costs towards a degree from Stanford University. She's dreamed of attending since arriving to states from Phanut Nikom, Thailand where she's originally from. With deep interests in Human Biology and Public Health, Jessica hopes to become an international doctor with a focus on special needs healthcare.

“Pursuing pre-med with Orchard’s Scholarship, I can be the changemaker of disability healthcare and spokesperson for children who never received the resources to talk. As an international physician, I will be the voice for those who haven’t found their own.” says Jessica.

Orchard received over 1,500 applications from around the world. Applicants were asked to share what inspired them to pursue a career in STEM, and to articulate how $2,500 could help in pursuing their goals. In order to be considered, applicants were required to identify as a woman of color with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or the international equivalent.

This scholarship is part of Orchard’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. One of our goals as a company is to encourage diversity within our industry and to find ways to make a difference outside of our organization. 

Eligibility

This scholarship is available to either: a female high school senior of color interested in pursuing a STEM degree in college, OR a female undergraduate college sophomore or junior of color currently pursuing a STEM degree.

The deadline for scholarship applications is April 1, 2023.

Requirements

For high school seniors:

• Full-time current students enrolled in a STEM class
• GPA of at least 3.0
• Must provide a transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
• Interest in pursuing a STEM degree in college

For undergraduate college students:

• Full-time enrolled college student
• Declared major or degree program in STEM
• GPA of at least 3.0
• Must provide a transcript

How to apply

To apply, please submit 2 short essays (300-500 words) addressing the following questions: 

1. What inspired your interest in the STEM field?
2. Explain how our scholarship will help in pursuing a career in a STEM-related field.

Applications for the 2023 scholarship have now closed.

By applying to this scholarship you understand and agree that any personal data collected in connection with your online application may be used by Orchard Technologies, Inc. and our subsidiaries, affiliates, and partners (“Orchard”) for purposes of processing your application, organizing and administering the scholarship, and complying with all applicable legal obligations. The scholarship funds awarded must be spent on education-related expenses, such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the students' classes at their primary college or university. Orchard reserves the right to change the terms of this scholarship at any time in its sole discretion.

FAQs

What is the deadline?

April 1st, 2023.

How much is the scholarship award?

Orchard will be awarding three scholarships in 2023. The scholarships will be in the following amounts: $2,500, $1,000 and $500.

When will the winner be chosen?

Scholarship finalists will be selected and notified the second week of May 2023. An official announcement will be shared once all recipients have accepted their awards.

Who can I contact with questions? 

Please email scholarship@orchard.com with questions.

About Orchard

Orchard is transforming the way people buy and sell their homes. Through our technology and best-in-class real estate agents, we remove the stress and uncertainty of the home buying process.  

Our team members come from many career fields and backgrounds including engineering, marketing, data science, product, and more. Technology and data have been at the forefront of our mission to transform the real estate industry. We value gender, ethnic, and racial equality in the workplace and have worked to improve diversity in roles that require a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degree.