Open Door Scholarship

Kitware will award one $5,000 scholarship for the 2026/2027 academic year to a talented high school senior pursuing an education in computer science. Scholarship recipients who continue to meet the eligibility requirements may renew their award annually, receiving up to $20,000 in total ($5,000 per year for four consecutive years).

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

• Be a senior graduating in spring 2026 from a US high school
• Be a US citizen, permanent resident, or otherwise lawfully permitted to study in the US
• Plan to attend college in the fall of 2026
• Plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree (or an associate’s degree as a step toward a bachelor’s degree) in computer science
• Identify a door that will be opened or an obstacle overcome through this program
• Demonstrate a passion for science and technology and a strong academic record

How to Apply?

This scholarship will be open for applications on January 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Recipients will be notified by late April.

In the application process, you will be required to supply:

• Basic information about you (name, address, email, phone number, high school you are attending now, colleges you are considering attending in the fall)
• Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a current math or science teacher)
• A high school transcript (an unofficial transcript is acceptable)
• Your FAFSA financial aid forms to demonstrate financial need
• A statement about what doors will be opened for you by participating in this program
• A statement about your experience/interest in software development, math, and science
• A short essay on the following: You are given a large team of software developers and significant computing resources to tackle a current problem in the world today. What problem would you try to solve through software? What would the software application do? 

Terms and Conditions

The scholarship funds must be spent on education-related expenses (such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment) required for your degree. Recipients are expected to be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited, degree-granting institution (under certain extenuating circumstances, part-time schedules may be allowed). Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the student ($2,500 per semester) after college enrollment is verified each semester. Scholarship awards can be renewed (for up to a total of four consecutive years of scholarship funding) as long as the recipient remains in good standing at their college.

Scholarship Recipients