Carnegie Mellon Offers Microsoft Diversity Scholarship in Entertainment Technology
PITTSBURGH, Pa.
Carnegie Mellon University and the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft have established the Microsoft Entertainment and Technology Diversity Scholarship for graduate students at the university’s Entertainment Technology Center. The scholarship program aims to attract minorities and women who are seeking careers in entertainment technology as computer programmers, game designers and graphic artists.
According to Carnegie Mellon, the Entertainment Technology Center offers the nation’s only master of entertainment technology degree, a program that combines fine arts training with computer science to help students learn the processes for digital storytelling and entertainment.
Says Don Marinelli, executive producer of ETC, the scholarship program and partnership with Microsoft illustrates the company’s “desire to make a top-quality education available and affordable to women and minority students.
“In the past year alone, ETC has significantly increased the number of women and minorities seeking the master of entertainment technology degree,” Marinelli says. “In the coming years, we will continue to work to diversify our program, and this Microsoft Entertainment and Technology Diversity Scholarship is a great tool in helping us meet our goal.”
A recent report issued by the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology reveals that African-Americans account for
6.2 percent of professionals in the information technology and engineering fields while Hispanics represent 5.3 percent. Women make up roughly 29 percent of information technology professionals, according to the National Center for Women & Information Technology.
“Microsoft remains a strong advocate of higher education. We are delighted and proud to provide talented women and minority students with this exciting opportunity to learn about digital entertainment at a world-class institution,” says Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division.
