A generous donation from CS alumna Jennifer Gandolfo (class of 1997) makes it possible for the Computer Science Department to offer a limited number of scholarships to women CS majors at TCNJ to attend the virtual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (GHC) each fall. The 2026 virtual event will take place from October 27 – 30. 2026.
Students who have attended GHC in the past have found it to be a transformative experience; they were able to learn more about the computing discipline, expand their professional network, and were exposed to a variety of internship and job opportunities.
Scholarships are awarded in spring semesters preceding the event, shortly after registration opens. The final number of scholarships awarded will depend on the number of applications received and is determined at the discretion of the Computer Science Department.
Eligible CS majors who are awarded a scholarship will be reimbursed for the registration fee for the virtual academic event ($299) in the fall semester, after vGHC ends. Scholarship recipients will be required to share their experiences and highlights from the event with their fellow CS majors at a DIGIT.all meeting during the fall semester.
How to Apply
Students should write a one-page essay detailing why they would like to attend GHC and how they plan to take advantage of their participation, and submit their essay to cs@tcnj.edu by 9:00 AM on Monday, March 23. Students must include their name and their academic level (i.e., sophomore, junior, senior) in Fall 2026. Email cs@tcnj.edu with any questions about the application.
Reflections from Past Scholarship Recipients
“I love the Anita Borg On-Demand Studio; it contains videos of all the virtual events so that you can watch them at your own convenience! I also appreciated learning about the different mindsets various STEM faculty members have on equity and how it affects their teaching practices.” Leah Kazenmayer, Class of 2023
“My experience at the virtual Grace Hopper Conference was a very valuable experience. I was able to connect with other women with similar interests in Computer Science, and learn a lot about new companies that offer exciting internship opportunities. I hope to attend next year as well!” Shannon Joseph, Class of 2025
“My first experience at Grace Hopper was a great experience. I had the opportunity to learn about incredible new tech at the panel sessions and made important connections at the career fair. The Grace Hopper Celebration is an amazing place for someone to get the type of exposure and networking that one needs.” Parvathi Krishnan, Class of 2024