Buick Achievers: A fabulous opportunity for students in STEM-related fields

The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program, funded by the General Motors Foundation is now

accepting applications for 50 renewable scholarships of up to $25,000 per year, targeted to high school students or undergrads seeking degrees in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) or other “eligible” fields.

And this is some serious money especially considering that the foundation will even cover a fifth year for students entering qualified five-year engineering programs.  In fact, Buick Achievers is one of the largest scholarship programs in the country having already awarded about $27 million to 3,400 students attending colleges and universities all over the country.

“Our country is in need of STEM grads, as the focus on innovation and technology continues to sharpen,” said GM Foundation President Vivian Pickard. “Through the Buick Achievers Scholarship program, we are helping shape the next generation of leaders and innovators for the automotive industry and other sectors that are so important to the future of our country.”

For the record, this is the fifth year Buick Achievers scholarships will be awarded to students who excel in the classroom and give back to their communities. 

And many local students are benefiting from the generous scholarships.

In 2011, the Buick Achievers inaugural year, there were three winners from the Washington DC metropolitan area—all young women.  In the three years since, 60 students residing in Maryland, DC or Virginia (about equally divided between young men and women) have earned a total of $613,000 in scholarships.

Obviously, General Motors is most interested in students possibly pursuing careers in the automotive industry, but this scholarship has a much wider reach.  Past winners are studying engineering, business, IT, and design.

To qualify, students must 

• Be high school seniors, high school graduates, or current postsecondary undergraduate students.
• Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university based in the U.S. or Puerto Rico for the entire 2015–16 academic year. Proprietary and online schools are not eligible.
• Plan to major in a specified course of study that focuses on Engineering, Technology, or select Design and Business related programs of study. See the list of eligible majors.
• Demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the automotive or related industries using these areas of study.
• Be U.S. citizens and have permanent residence in the United States or Puerto Rico.

Students must demonstrate participation and leadership in community and school activities or work experience.  And all applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, on Friday, February 27.

For more information or to begin the application process, visit the Buick Achievers webpage.