Dr. Bart Kamen Memorial FIRST Scholarship

Financial need is part of how this award is decided, alongside merit.

Award

Up to four $10,000 initial grants, renewable for three more years (up to $40,000). Renewal requires continued full-time eligible study and satisfactory academic progress, annual biomedical/medical research, a scholarly paper and supervisor assessment, renewal letter, official transcript and W-9 by June 1. Funds are sent to selected applicants by August 31 after enrollment/tax-form verification.

Timeline

1. May 1Application opens annually but exact 2027 submission dates are unpublished and the official portal currently has no open calls. General later stages: enrollment
2. Jun 1Renewal research/letter/transcript
3. Jul 1Deferment request
4. Aug 31Disbursement by . These recurring dates do not establish a 2027 application deadline.

How to apply

Complete the online Submittable application and supporting documents when open. An interview may be requested. Recipients must provide W-9 and verify admission/enrollment. The current portal has no open calls, so full initial application materials for 2027 cannot be read.

What you'll need

• A separate scholarship application
• An interview

Who can apply

Secondary-school seniors or graduates who have not begun full-time undergraduate study; at least one year on a FIRST LEGO League, Tech Challenge or Robotics Competition team. Apply to or be accepted by full-time biomedical engineering, premedical or another major with medical-school prerequisite coursework at a U.S. Title-IV-eligible institution or similarly accredited foreign institution. FIRST employees/officers, board/selection committee members and the specified close relatives are excluded. Citizenship is not explicitly stated; the required W-9 creates an unresolved tax-document question for non-U.S. applicants.

Good to know

Financial need may be considered but is not required. A biomedical engineering major is not mandatory if the programme permits premedical prerequisites with another major. Annual research is a renewal obligation. Deferment is discretionary, requires eligibility when deferred/paid, July 1 notice, and educational use of all funds; misuse can lead to cancellation/recoupment.

Details

STEMResearchNeed considered