Two Students Receive $30K Scholarships from Microsoft

The Microsoft Corporation awarded Bridgett J. Frey '99 and Rebecca C. Weiss '99 the Microsoft Women's Technical Scholarship yesterday. Contest rules stipulate only one winner per institution, making the two awards particularly notable.

Microsoft will pay a year's tuition for both Frey and Weiss. In addition, the students must accept a salaried summer internship at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash., if positions can be found for them.

The scholarship, established this year to encourage women to pursue studies in computer science and related fields, was open to female sophomores and juniors majoring successfully in these areas.

Calling both Frey and Weiss "extraordinary women," Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 said, "I am very pleased that these two students have been recognized by Microsoft."

Emphasizing the dearth of women in the field of computer science--both at Harvard and nationally--he said, "I am sure that this program will highlight their achievements and also encourage others to have the same ambitions."

Frey said that she is "very excited" about the scholarship which "will definitely help [her] get through the next year." She "couldn't be happier about the honor."

Originally from Coral Springs, Fla., Frey is a resident of Quincy House. A computer science concentrator, she was a teaching fellow (TF) for Computer Science 50, "Introduction to Computer Science I," for the past two semesters. This semester she is a TF for Computer Science 161, "Operating Systems."

In addition to her academic involvement, Frey is also the executive editor of The Independent and a violin player in the Toscanini Chamber Orchestra.

Weiss hails from Evanston, Ill., and lives in Lowell House.

She began her Harvard career as a math concentrator and was a TF for Mathematics 21a, "Multivariable Calculus," both semesters last year. This year she switched to computer science and was a TF last fall for Computer Science 121, "Introduction to Formal Systems and Computation."

"She is an outstanding student, and a wonderful person," said Lewis, the professor of CS 121 when Weiss was a TF. "I have never seen her without a smile on her face. She was very well liked by the students in her CS 121 section, too."

Weiss also sings with Collegium Musicum and is active in Hillel.

Both Frey and Weiss say they anticipate careers in the software industry after graduation. Frey foresees attending graduate school in computer science after some years of work experience.

The application process required submission of a resume and a 300- to 500-word essay describing the applicant's preparations for a career in the software industry. An on-campus interview was also required.