Soliant’s Sunrise Scholarship
Soliant is proud to sponsor our Sunrise Scholarship, through which we award a one-time educational scholarship of $1,000 to a student who best answers the question presented for our Fall 2023-Spring 2024 program.
How can software engineers and developers take a more active role in adhering to technology ethics and protecting those affected by the solutions they build?
The debate of ethics in software development has existed as long as software has, but only recently have consumers begun to take an active interest in the conversation. As technology giants like Facebook become embroiled in concerns related to user data, the concern for how user information is used, protected, and shared has only grown. An argument for strict adherence to ethics has entered mainstream conversation.
Software engineers and developers themselves grapple with how their work affects the end user as well as other audiences, but they often have less power than consumers realize. Requests are handed to a technical manager, which are handed to a developer, who often has little influence back up the chain.
Here at Soliant, we encourage our team members to speak up with their ethical concerns, but not all firms follow this guideline. How can these developers better protect users as well as anyone else affected by the technology they build? How can they take a more active role in their companies to share ethical concerns with the chain of management? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 Scholarship Program
Our scholarship is open to U.S. residents who are students headed into or attending a college undergraduate program (Graduate and Masters programs are not eligible) in the United States.
To apply for the Sunrise scholarship:
- Answer the question: “How can software engineers and developers take a more active role in adhering to technology ethics and protecting those affected by the solutions they build?”
- Essay must be submitted by applicant; use of a scholarship service will result in disqualification.
- Essay may only be submitted once.
- Once an essay is submitted, re-submission is not accepted.
- Multiple submissions are not allowed.
- Read the eligibility requirements at the bottom of this page.
- Essay Length: 400 (min.) to 450 (max.) words, excludes title.
- Note: Essays that do not adhere to the length as specified above will be disqualified.
- Submit your essay to scholarship@soliantconsulting.com with the subject line “Soliant Sunrise Scholarship Entry”
- Attach essay in a Word or PDF file; OR
- Put your essay text in the body of the email.
- Only students chosen as finalists will be asked to provide documentation confirming their eligibility.
- Deadline: Friday, April 28, 2023 by 5:00 pm Pacific Time
- Essays received after the deadline date and time will not be accepted for the Fall 2023-Spring 2024 Scholarship.
- Soliant Consulting will choose and notify the winner by the end of May 2023.
Congratulations to our Fall 2002-Spring 2023 Award Recipient
Kathryn Kingsberry is from Encino, California, and grew up in Newark, Delaware. She is currently attending Los Angeles Pierce College and will attend Columbia University in Fall 2022.
Kathryn is interested in English and American literature. She hopes to combine the technical skills she gained while working with non-profits in the tech industry with her passion for books in the scholastic and education sectors. Kathryn wants to help increase diversity, inclusion, and accessibility to academic and popular literature for underrepresented young adults.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Kathryn enjoys reviewing and recommending books on social media and promoting independent authors’ projects. She plans on returning to marathon running now that more events are resuming after the challenging years of the pandemic. Kathryn is also the caregiver for her mother, a cancer survivor. She balances caring for her mother with attending school full time and working as a tutor.
Eligibility
To apply for the scholarship, applicant must be a U.S. resident who is a student currently enrolled or accepted at a 2-year or 4-year college or university in the United States. Graduate and Masters programs are not eligible.
Incoming Freshmen
Applicant must be a current student and have a cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
- Applicant must have a cumulative college grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale and be enrolled full-time at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the United States pursing an undergraduate degree.
- Essay must be submitted by applicant; use of a scholarship service will result in disqualification.
- Applicant must use the scholarship toward undergraduate program (i.e. Graduate and Masters programs not eligible).
- If the applicant or the applicant’s parent/legal guardian is employed by Soliant Consulting, at the time of award or a past employee, the student is not eligible for the scholarship. Eligibility of finalists will be verified before winners are selected.
Responsibilities of Recipients
The recipient must be actively enrolled full-time as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior for the complete Fall 2023-Spring 2024 academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency or military service. It is the recipient’s responsibility to verify receipt of funds with their designated institution and notify Soliant Consulting with any issues that may arise. Soliant Consulting reserves the right to alter or discontinue this program at any time without notice.
Digital Rights Agreement
By submitting an entry to this competition, you agree that all essay submissions will become the property of Soliant Consulting and may be used in marketing materials, reposted, or displayed online in whole or partial form without notification.
Description of Scholarship Funds
The selected winner will receive a one-time $1,000 educational scholarship to be applied to qualified expenses, including undergraduate tuition, fees, books and on-campus room and board for the Fall 2023-Spring 2024 academic year. Funds are provided by Soliant Consulting. Payments issued by Soliant Consulting are made payable to the student’s approved college or university and mailed after May 31, 2023 directly to the accredited college or university designated by the student.
Selection and Announcement of Winners
Winner will be selected and announced by the Soliant Consulting team after the deadline listed above.
- Applicants that do not adhere to the essay length as listed above are disqualified.
- Applicants are judged on quality and thoughtfulness of entries.
- We will notify finalists and the winner via email.
College / University Approval
The institution must be accredited and listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education. All school transfers are subject to accreditation approval.
Questions
Feel free to email scholarship@soliantconsulting.com if you have questions. Thank you!