Travel for Free: The World of Conference Scholarships

Many professional conferences are held annually across various fields. This post will focus on STEM and tech conferences, as that is where my knowledge lies. So, what is a conference scholarship? Many institutions, including universities, Google, and non-profit organizations such as Rewriting the Code, provide funds to bring underrepresented individuals to these conferences…for free! My scholarship was awarded by the Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing (i4c) at the University of Maryland, College Park. The applications are open to students annually, and you only need to fill out one form to be considered for many of the conferences. Each scholarship offers different perks, so it is important to know what you will be getting. 

What was included on my scholarship?  

• Plane Tickets  
• Transportation to and from airports  
• Conference registration  
• Hotel  

Moreover, conferences usually take place in the fall, so applications are generally open during late spring and summer. Check out these pages to learn more about and apply for conference scholarships:

• Google’s Conference Scholarships
• Rewriting the Code Conference Scholarships (You must create an account and login to access the conference scholarship page!)
• i4c’s Conference Scholarships  (The Techsgiving Summit application is still open! Apply ASAP!)

oSTEM 14th Annual Conference

This past weekend, I participated in my first conference: the oSTEM 14th Annual Conference. Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) is an organization for queer students and professionals in the STEM field. Their annual conference aims to connect queer and trans professionals and empower us to seek new opportunities.

My Experience at oSTEM

Spending my week at this conference was a turning point for me. I have worked in the hospitality industry for years, and for years, I have proudly worked as a waitress at conferences. For the first time, I was not serving. For the first time, I was in the room as a professional. I would be lying if I said it was not a mix of emotions, ranging from nervousness to excitement. Listening to others’ journeys and having the opportunity to connect with industry professionals was an important opportunity for the development of my confidence as a tech professional. My favorite part was the oSTEM career fair, where I met two people who got interviews for internships on the spot! This is the power of taking up space. Make yourself seen. Apply for a conference now (or at least save the date for next year)!