Awards and Scholarships

The Department has student awards and scholarships that are administered through PittFund$Me. Please check award availability, student eligibility, on this portal on my.pitt.edu.

Catherine Ofiesh and Gerald Orner Award: This award established by Dr. Gerald Orner in memory of his wife Catherine Ofiesh to establish an annual award for excellence in information science

Roger R. Flynn Memorial Award: This award, established by Anthony and Chris Flynn in memory of the founder of the BSIS program, Dr. Roger Flynn to provide an award for undergraduate or graduate student(s) who are majoring in Information Science and have experienced systemic barriers to education.


Undergraduate Students


Ida M. Flynn Memorial Award: The Ida M. Flynn Memorial Award is given to a graduating BSIS student who exemplifies accomplishment in IS studies, participates keenly in the intellectual life of SIS, works well with peers to master skills and share concepts, and becomes a peer role model of noted value to the BSIS program. See here for more details and a list of awardees.

Jennifer & Eric Spiegel Technology and Communications Award: Through an annual essay competition, the Jennifer and Eric Spiegel Award, will recognize students in the BSIS major for excellence in writing a paper addressing a problem or leading-edge topic focused on how information, technology, and networks impact humans and society. The paper should address the chosen topic from the perspective of the Department’s focus on the integration and intersection of technology, data, networks, and people. See here for more details and a list of awardees.

PPG Industries Information Technology Scholarship: Thanks to the annual generosity of PPG Industries, scholarships will support BSIS students who improve the diversity of the School of Computing and Information student population.


Graduate Students


MSIS Students

Russell Howard FellowshipThe Russell Howard Fellowship is intended to help support the educational expense of a Master’s student who demonstrates a strong work ethic, shows perseverance, and displays the spirit of overcoming obstacles in pursuit of a graduate education in CS or IS.

James G. Williams Scholarship Fund: The James G. Williams Scholarship Fund was created to honor Distinguished Professor Emeritus James G. Williams. The scholarship supports an outstanding student enrolled in the MSIS Program.

Mitchell Family Scholarship: To provide support for tuition & other educational expenses of undergraduate & graduate student(s) in the School. It is the hope of the Donor that the Scholarship Fund will assist the University in achieving its goal of attracting & retaining students who contribute to the diversity of the student body at the University of Pittsburgh.

Allen Kent Award: Named for Allen Kent, a Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the former School of Information Sciences, this award is directed to MSIS students who should show academic excellence and indications of potential leadership in the profession.

MST Students

Fritz Froehlich Scholarship: The Fritz Froehlich Award is presented to a graduate student for outstanding contributions to the Telecommunications degree program.

K. Leon Montgomery Assistantship in Telecommunications: This scholarship provides support to a full-time master’s student enrolled in the MST program. Preference is given to students who achieve academic excellence through coursework, research, international focus, and leadership.