Open Door Scholarship

Kitware is excited to open the application window for our Open Door Scholarship. We launched this scholarship in 2021 and are committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to pursue a degree in computer science and develop their passion for software engineering. We recognize that high school seniors considering a college degree may face a variety of financial or societal obstacles that make this goal seem unattainable. Kitware’s Open Door Scholarship offers financial support and mentorship to scholarship recipients to help them achieve their degree and enrich the field with their talent, skill, creativity, and perspective.

Program Overview:

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).

• Be a senior graduating in spring 2026 from a US high school in proximity to a Kitware office
  • NY Capital Region
  • Research Triangle, NC
  • Arlington, VA
  • Minneapolis, MN

• 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

• 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 Submission Summary, which displays your Student Aid Index (SAI) 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, engineering, and/or science
• A short essay on the following: The Open Door Scholarship provides both financial support and mentorship. Describe a time when mentorship, guidance, or community support made a difference in your life or a time when you wished you had that support. How do you hope mentorship will shape your education and future career in computer science?

Ready to Apply?

Applications must be submitted by Monday, April 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Recipients will be notified by early May.