Student Wins Google Scholarship
6-5-09

Sarah Cooley, a junior double majoring in computer science and electrical and computer engineering at Oregon State University, is the recipient of a Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship. Cooley, one of only 20 students in the nation to win this prestigious scholarship, will receive a $10,000 award for the 2009-2010 academic year. The scholarship is given to women majoring in computer science or computer engineering.

Cooley, a high achieving student from Pleasanton, Calif., chose to attend Oregon State after learning about the university’s strengths in research for undergraduate students, the Open Source Lab, and the College of Engineering’s solar vehicle challenge team.

“I put a lot of thought into deciding to come to OSU,” said Cooley. “I was admitted to a number of UC (University of California) schools, but decided Oregon State was the right place for me after making a visit.”

Cooley didn’t waste any time in getting involved. She immediately got a job at the Open Source Lab and worked on the One Laptop per Child project where her first assignment was to write the browser plugin for the media player. This year, Cooley is a teaching assistant for a computer science course and is still active in the open source education lab. She is also an ambassador for the College of Engineering where she represents EECS during high school visits and other outreach activities.

“I’m very interested in getting more open source included in the computer science curriculum,” said Cooley. “The spread of information via open source is one of the coolest things out there.”

Tim Budd, an associate professor of computer science who is highly involved in the open source community, agrees. “Sarah has been an evangelist for open source for the OSEL (Open Source Education Lab) and an active force in revitalizing the Linux User Group. …she represents the best characteristics of our students: active, intelligent, engaged, and with irrepressible enthusiasm.”

The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarships are given to encourage women to excel in computing and technology and become active role models and leaders in the field. Kyle Rector, a senior from Clackamas, Ore. double majoring in electrical and computer engineering and computer science, was named a finalist for the scholarship and received a $1,000 award. Both Cooley and Rector will also attend the 3-day Annual Google Scholars’ Retreat in June at the company’s Mountain View, CA, headquarters.