Austin Community College District (ACC) and NI (formerly National Instruments) announce a new all-inclusive scholarship program to help students from underserved communities gain careers in STEM fields. The NI Technical Scholar Program is part of ACC’s Career Scholars program.
“We are excited to team up with NI to expand ACC’s Career Scholars program and lift the weight of paying for college to help underserved students build a rewarding career in the technology field,” said Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC chancellor. “This kind of work is what it takes to reimagine higher education and eliminate equity gaps, and it’s what we mean when we say ACC is for everyone. Together, ACC and NI are creating new opportunity with critical hands-on training and mentorship at NI. We are excited to watch more students thrive through this program.”
The internship-to-employment program provides an Engineering Opportunity Scholarship that covers the full cost of attendance at ACC as well as an immersive development program including personalized mentoring from ACC and NI, a full-time paid summer internship at NI, part-time employment in NI’s Product R&D organization, and a technical skills boot camp.
“Changing the faces of engineering is not a solo endeavor; it requires collective action among industries, educators, and nonprofits,” says Tabitha Upshaw, senior director of brand, reputation, and impact at NI. “ACC is a forward-thinker that knows how to amplify impact across the Austin community.”
The inaugural cohort will start in September 2021 with the first expected graduation in May 2022.
ACC’s Career Scholars program launched in fall 2020 with two inaugural cohorts — one for eligible graduating high school seniors and the other for adult learners. Data shows students in the program had near-perfect persistence rates. The program supports underserved communities to provide pathways for students to earn a workforce certificate or degree and enter into a promising, high-demand career. Enrollment will double this fall with more than 500 students.
For more information and to view eligibility requirements for both tracks, visit austincc.edu/careerscholars.