SiD's EDiT Work/Study Grants

Application Deadline: September 15, 2010

We're delighted to be able to offer six EDiT (Education for Developers in Transition) work/study grants for the upcoming RPG & DB2 Summit, October 11-14 in Minneapolis.

System i Developer's EDiT program helps deserving developers in transition update their marketable programming skills by providing complimentary registration to SiD educational events such as the Summit. By participating in the Summit, currently unemployed developers can learn new skills, network with other developers and enhance their resume with recent professional development activity.

For the upcoming Summit, three individuals will be selected receive an EDiT Monitor Grant to join our Summit team as room monitors in exchange for free conference and Headstart Seminar registration. An additional three developers will be awarded an EDiT Seminar Grant to attend two tuition-free half-day Headstart Seminars on Monday, October 11.

Scholarship Details

EDiT Monitor Grant
As room monitors, the selected developers will help out SiD staff and conference speakers by distributing handouts, tracking session attendance, helping with registration and providing other assistance as needed. In exchange for this help, they will receive all benefits of a Summit registration, including attendance at conference sessions, two Headstart Seminars, meals, handouts, etc. Room monitors should plan to be at the Sofitel Minneapolis from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm on Monday, October 11 through Thursday, October 14. They will be responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses (if any).

EDiT Seminar Grant
Individuals selected to receive a Headstart Seminar grant can register for two free seminars of their choice, which includes bound handouts and a complimentary lunch. Seminar attendees are responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses (if any).

The following seminars will be held at the Sofitel Minneapolis on Monday, October 11 from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm.

• HTML/Javascript/CSS for RPG Developers with Paul Tuohy (AM)
• Developing Data Centric Solutions with SQL with Mike Cain (AM)
• PHP for RPG Developers with Jon Paris (PM)
• Web Services for RPGers with Scott Klement (PM)

Qualifications

EDiT awards will be made to individuals who are currently unemployed, actively seeking full-time employment and not receiving retirement benefits. If you fit these criteria, we encourage you to apply!

Please Note: You are on the honor system regarding these qualifications. We trust that individuals who do not fit these criteria will not apply, and that they will honor the intent of this program to provide education and inspiration to developers who face the challenge of unemployment in the midst of their careers. Too many of our colleagues currently need the edge that education and networking can provide in getting back to work. We appreciate your help in supporting our goals!

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following materials to us by email using one of the following subject lines that best describes your interests: EDiT Monitor or EDiT Seminar.

Please submit:

1. Your resume
2. A brief statement (longer than a tweet but shorter than an essay, about 150-200 words) on what you have done on the last 5 years to further your own education
3. Another brief statement on why you want to participate in this program.
4. Confirmation that you are willing to accept responsibility for any travel and/or hotel expenses that you incur related to your attendance at the Summit. (Note that you will have the option of declining any award before making travel arrangements if you find that the expenses will be prohibitive.
5. Confirmation that you qualify for the EDiT program according to the criteria outlined above.

Deadline

All applications must be received by 9:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, September 15 to be considered.

Selection Process

The SiD partners will evaluate applications based on whether or not they meet the qualifications outlined above, then on the answers to the qualifying questions. Preference will be given to those who have demonstrated their commitment to professional development, whether formal or self-directed.

Three room monitors will be selected first from the pool of the room monitor candidates deemed best qualified by SiD. Once the room monitors have been selected, all remaining Headstart Seminar candidates will be pooled according to prioritization for a random drawing to fill the Three positions.

Notification of Selection

Scholarship recipients will be notified by email on Friday, September 17. We ask that each recipient confirm their ability to accept the scholarship by Monday, September 20 so that we can offer their position to another person if they are unable to attend.