IIE and Juniper Networks announced this week the inaugural Women Enhancing Technology (WeTech) Scholarship and Internship for University Women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. This initiative invests in young women in the United States and India by offering scholarship money for study in the STEM fields as well as paid internship opportunities with Juniper Networks. Combining financial support with internships gives women an opportunity to gain real-world experience, access to role models and mentors, and enhanced technical skills to succeed in a technical career.

The global Juniper Selection Committee kicked off the program by selecting two U.S. winners: Nicole Deleon, a biomedical engineering major from San Jose State University, and Taylor White, a computer engineering major from Howard University. Each recipient of the award will receive a $10,000 scholarship for the 2015/2016 school year as well as the opportunity to participate in a paid 12-week internship at Juniper’s Global Headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., Juniper’s OpenLab in Bridgewater, N.J., or Juniper’s New England Innovation Center in Westford, Mass. IIE and Juniper Networks plan to extend the program to include four additional award recipients from India later this year.

As the Manager of the WeTech initiative, IIE is actively seeking new partners and resources to expand the program’s reach and impact. Individuals and organizations that wish to participate should contact IIE at WeTech@iie.org.