Let's hear it for Google scholarship winners

Across the world, the participation of women and minorities in computer science is at an all-time low. According to studies conducted by the National Science Foundation, the annual graduation rate for women in computer science is just 22%, just 6.5% for Hispanic students, 4.8% for African American students, and under 1% for American Indian students. As part of our global effort to increase diversity in our industry, we have created scholarship programs with the United Negro College Fund, the Hispanic College Fund and the American Indian Science & Engineering Society. Each of these programs is meant to encourage students to excel in their studies and become active role models and leaders. It's our hope that these programs also help dismantle barriers that keep women and minorities from entering computing and technology fields. (Read more about Google's scholarship programs.)

Now comes the really fun part: announcing the 2008 winners. Please join us in congratulating the 42 students who have been recognized for their outstanding academic and leadership accomplishments in the computer science field. Each of these students will receive a $10,000 academic scholarship from Google, as well as an invitation to attend the all-expenses-paid Annual Google Scholars' Retreat held each Spring at the Googleplex in Mountain View.

Earlier this year, we also had the great pleasure of announcing the winners of the 2008 Google Anita Borg Scholarship in the U.S. and Canada as well as in Europe. (This scholarship is also offered to women in Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.)

Congrats to all!

2008 Google United Negro College Fund Scholars

• Brian Beecham - Alabama A&M University
• Clinton Buie - Stanford University
• Dorian Perkins - University of California, Riverside
• John Mosby - Clark Atlanta University
• Katherine Trushkowsky - University of California, Berkeley
• Lateef Yusuf - Georgia Institute of Technology
• Mamadou Diallo - University of California, Irvine
• Mcdavis Fasugba - University of Miami
• Pascal Carole - University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• Rashida Davis - University of Delaware
• Remy Carole - University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• Sheronda Nash - Georgia Institute of Technology
• Souma Badombena-Wanta - George Mason University
• Yolanda McMillian - Auburn University

2008 Google Hispanic College Fund Scholars

• Miguel Rios - University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
• Milton Villeda - University of Texas, Austin
• Ricardo Rodríguez - University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
• Marco Medina - Eastern Washington University
• Abel Licon - University of Deleware
• Maximiliano Ramirez Luna - University of California, Berkeley
• Juan Herrera - University of Oklahoma
• Kenneth Faller Ii - Florida International University
• Heriberto Reynoso - University of Texas, Brownsville
• Jose Martinez - California State Polytechnic University
• Otoniel Ortega - University of Illinois, Chicago
• Antonio Rodríguez-soto - Universidad Del Turabo
• Tina Ziemek - University of Utah
• Diana Flores - University of Florida
• Matthew Martinez - University of New Mexico
• Frank Blandon - University of Florida
• Felipe Carmona - Roosevelt University
• Pamela Gutierrez - Oklahoma Panhandle State University
• Daniel Hernandez - Tennessee Technological University

2008 Google American Indian Science & Engineering Society Scholars

• Erik Bennett - New Mexico Tech
• Kaylei Burke - University of Nebraska, Lincoln
• Cory Cornelius - Dartmouth College
• Daniel Jachowski - Stanford University
• Denise Martin - Capella University
• Mitchell Martin - University of Texas, San Antonio
• Melanie Prevett - Oklahoma State University
• Thomas Reed - University of California, Santa Barbara
• Delbert Willie - Colorado State University

Posted by Meredith Carroll, Global Diversity and Talent Inclusion Team