Google has extended the last date to apply for its Annual Engineering Scholarship to September 15. Established in the name of the late Venkat Panchapakeshan, the former head of engineering department at Youtube, the scholarship presents an incredible opportunity for young talents to spend a week at the Youtube headquarters in California.
In addition to this, accepted candidates are awarded a sum of over Rs 50,000 to support the model of sustainable engineering life solution they submit at the time of the application.
Engineering students pursuing both degree and PG can apply for the scholarship. The candidates should have a flair in computer science, which would be tested in the screening process. The candidates are also awarded Rs 20,000 on top of the earlier prize if the sustainable project they built can be implemented on regional bases.
The expenses incurred during this one-week-long stay at the YouTube headquarters in California will be met by Google. Selected candidates will also be offered a tour to the Google headquarters, YouTube headquarters and Stanford University campus, California.
Experts in engineering and computer science at these destinations will also interact with the scholarship holders during the tour.
Felix Josemon, an alumnus from Thrissur
Keralites had twice been a part of Google engineering scholarship. Felix Josemon, a young engineer from Thrissur district of Kerala, attended the programme in the last academic year (2017-18.)
Felix applied for the scholarship while he was pursuing his B.tech in computer science at Govt Engineering College, Thrissur. Felix had developed a web portal called Opportunity Calendar which consolidated the workshops, training programmes, technological debates, hackathons, scholarship dates and job fairs taking place around Kerala.
“It was an amazing opportunity,” Felix recalls. “We were taken to the YouTube HQ and made to attend their brain-storming meetings. We could experience how ideas are formulated and put into action by the internet kings,”
Felix said that he acquired a comprehensive idea about the ideation, modelling and marketing of a technological project. “Google emphasizes on localizing its product designs. They are enthusiastic about the projects that could be implemented in the grass-root level,” he said.
Felix cherishes his conversations with the YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. “She is a very down-to-earth kind of person. I realized that the big players in technology like Google and YouTube are being headed by normal people like you and me,” he added.
At present, Felix works as the marketing head of a UK based software company. He said that his experience and certification of attending the Google scholarship programme gave a good launch to his career.
Felix has a piece of advice for the young aspiring engineers: “There are a lot of opportunities around you. Watch out for them. Exposure and opportunities wouldn't come by your way. You have to observe and chase them.”
How to apply
1. Prepare two essays on the topic 'How to use computer science for sustainable development'. The first one should be in 300 words and the second, 200 words.
2. Record a one-minute selfie video explaining the reasons you applied for this scholarship.
3. Keep ready two letters of recommendation, preferably by your teachers or higher officials.
4. Submit your application from the Google engineering scholarship page.
Venkat Panchapakesan, a pioneer in computer engineering
Venkat Panchapakesan was the head of the engineering department at YouTube headquarters, California. The 49-year-old engineer hailing from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu was a graduate in electronics from Coimbatore Institute of Technology.
After a brief stint at Yahoo!, Panchapakesan was handpicked by YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki and posted directly as the Engineering Head.
Unfortunately, the young techie lost his battle against cancer and breathed his last on May 11 2015. The scholarship in his name is constituted by his friends and family to encourage young engineers of ingenious talent.