The scholarship is for enrolled UC San Diego undergraduates who actively support the LGBTQIA+ community and major in computer science, computer engineering, public policy, communications, or other programs that touch on networked systems. In addition to receiving a scholarship, recipients have an opportunity to carry out guided research under the direction of one of the center’s faculty mentors.
CNS reached its endowment goal of $250,000 in February 2020. Many individual donors and corporate donors made this possible including a generous donation from the Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) in memory of Brian Kantor, WB6YT, a UC San Diego alumnus who worked at UC San Diego for 47 years, and the founder of the ARDC. With the endowment, CNS awards $10,000 per year in perpetuity to a UC San Diego undergraduate student.
In addition a generous $50,000 donation from the Teradata Corporation in 2021 endowed a second scholarship. The Alan Turing Memorial Teradata Scholarship provides an additional annual $2,000 scholarship. In 2022, José Santana Sosa was named the inaugural recipient of the Alan Turing Memorial Teradata Scholarship. Santana Sosa is the first student to receive both scholarships for a single year.
The Turing family approved the naming of the scholarship, and Alan Turing’s nephew, Sir Dermot Turing, stated, “I am delighted that you are able to support students through the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship and I am certain that this kind of initiative is one which would have received his whole-hearted support. As I expect you know, Alan helped support the education of a Jewish refugee boy escaping from Nazi Europe during World War II, and it is vitally important that young talented people get assisted in achieving their potential. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure diversity of talent, and in particular to encourage those who might feel that their interests or approach are out of the mainstream. Alan Turing is a role model, showing how it is possible to succeed – and to achieve the extraordinary. I hope he is an inspiration to those who receive the scholarship and I am proud to be able to support it in this small way.”
In October 2016, the first Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship recipient Valeria Gonzalez, CNS Administrative Manager Jennifer Folkestad, and former CNS MSO Kathy Krane met with Sir Dermot Turing for lunch when he was in La Jolla, CA for a private event. 
HOW TO APPLY?
Applications are now closed for the 2024 -2025 scholarship year. Please check back for the next application deadline in early 2025.
If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact the UCSD Scholarship Office at finaid@ucsd.edu. If you have questions regarding the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship, please contact the Center for Networked Systems (CNS) at cns@ucsd.edu.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
2024-2025
Jonathan Ty, a sophomore majoring in computer science, has been awarded the 2024-2025 Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship and the Alan Turing Memorial Teradata Scholarship from CNS. “I’m so honored to receive this distinguished award and to support the LGBTQIA+ community. This fills me with a sense of confidence and determination to excel academically and make the most of the opportunities presented to me,” said Ty, who was previously named a 2023 Regent’s Scholar by the university.
Read the full story about the 2024-2025 recipient.
2023-2024
Two undergraduate students from the University of California San Diego – Adam Alemi, Senior from the Computer Science and Engineering department along with an anonymous recipient, a Communication major, have been awarded the 2023-2024 Alan Turing Memorial Scholarships. Adam will receive $10,000 from the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship and another $2,000 from the newly established Alan Turing Teradata Scholarship. The anonymous recipient will receive $12 thousand from the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship.
“It is imperative that we recognize the importance of equal treatment for all individuals, without any form of discrimination,” said Alemi. “Let us collectively embrace one another with unconditional love and equality, irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Read the full story about the 2023-2024 recipients.
2022-2023
CSE undergrad José Santana Sosa received the 2022-2023 Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship. He is also the inaugural recipient of CNS’s first-ever Alan Turing Memorial Teradata Scholarship. The two scholarships were established in memory of Alan Turing, the co-founder of computer science who was persecuted for his orientation as a gay man.
“Being an immigrant, Latinx, gay, first-generation transfer student, I understand how important and challenging it is to present your full, intersecting-self in academic and professional spaces. I am passionate about easing and supporting the way for others who are on a similar path,” said Santana Sosa.
Read the full story on Santana Sosa and the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarships.
2021-2022
Awarded for the 2021-2022 academic year, this year’s awardee is a CS major in Warren College who prefers to remain anonymous. Congratulations to the recipient and thank you to all who applied. This is the sixth year that CNS has recognized a student majoring in programs touching on networked systems who is active in supporting the LGBT+ community.
2020-2021
Awarded for the 2020-2021 academic year, Eustaquio Aguilar Ruiz, a senior majoring in physics with a specialization in computational physics, has received the 2020-2021 Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship. This is the fifth year that CNS has recognized a student majoring in programs touching on networked systems who is active in supporting the LGBT+ community.
“I feel that many who are LGBT+, along with other marginalized identities, struggle with finding a welcoming place. The Alan Turing Memorial Scholarships represent hope and opportunity for students with complex and diverse identities in the LGBT+ communities,” said Ruiz.
Read the full story on Ruiz and the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship.
2019-2020
Awarded for the 2019-2020 academic year, and thanks to a generous $10,000 grant from the Motorola Solutions Foundation, Giselle Mejia, a fourth-year student studying cognitive science with a specialization in design and interaction, is now among the 2019 Turing Scholarship recipients. A second student, who wishes to remain anonymous, was also recognized and will be awarded a scholarship through support from CNS.
“This year, the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to two amazing students,” said associate professor and CNS co-director George Porter. “We’re very thankful to the Motorola Solutions Foundation for their generous support of this meaningful scholarship program and for making this opportunity possible.”
Read the full story on Mejia and the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship.
2018-2019
Awarded for the 2018-2019 academic year Anton Sydorenko and Adrian Mendoza are the third recipients of the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship. This was made possible thanks to a generous $10,000 grant from the Motorola Solutions Foundation.
“The Motorola Solutions Foundation is honored and privileged to support the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship,” said Matt Blakely, executive director of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We believe in organizations that are fostering innovation, building partnerships and driving change, and we’re proud to be a part of the positive impact they’re making in their communities.”
Read the full story on Sydorenko and Mendoza and the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship.
2017-2018
Awarded for the 2017-2018 academic year, Sothyrak Srey is the the second recipient of the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship.
“It’s an honor to be recognized with an award named for Alan Turing. He had such a big impact on computer science and we can only imagine what more he would have contributed to the field had he not been persecuted for his identity,” said Srey. “The scholarship has motivated me to work even harder. I believe I can use my knowledge to really make an impact.”
Read the full story on Srey and the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship.
2016-2017
Awarded for the 2016-2017 academic year, Valeria Gonzalez is the first recipient of the Alan Turing Memorial scholarship.
“It was really impactful to receive an award that recognizes the presence of LGBTQ folks in STEM communities,” Gonzalez said. “Computer science draws people from all different backgrounds, and I think it’s so important to demonstrate inclusivity and be supportive of students, especially those whose identities are often challenged and invalidated. Having people with different backgrounds, talents and perspectives will only make our field stronger and provide folks an environment where they can reach their full potential.”
Read the full story on Gonzalez and the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP NEWS and RELATED LINKS
Computer Science Undergrad Jonathan Ty Awarded Alan Turing Memorial Scholarships for Support of LGBTQIA+ Community [October 18, 2024]
Two Students Awarded Alan Turing Memorial Scholarships for Support of LGBTQIA+ Community. [November 1, 2023]
José Santana Sosa: First Recipient of Two Alan Turing Memorial Scholarships. [October 10, 2022]
New Alan Turing £50 note enters circulation. [June 23, 2021]
Eustaquio Aguilar Ruiz Named Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship Recipient. [November 23, 2020]
Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship Recognizes Two Outstanding Scholars. [January 8, 2020]
Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship Recognizes Two Students in Computer Science. [November 2, 2018]
Actor and Activist George Takei’s Visit to UC San Diego. [May 3, 2018]
Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship Celebrates Diversity in Computer Science. [September 28, 2017]
CNS Scholarship Winner Gets First-Hand Insight into Computer Science Pioneer Alan Turing. [November 14, 2016]
Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Valeria Gonzalez! [May 26, 2016]
Third video for Crowdsurf crowdfunding campaign.
The second video for Crowdsurf crowdfunding campaign.
First video for Crowdsurf crowdfunding campaign.
Press release announcing the Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship. [June 1, 2015]
Alan Turing Campaign Flyer. [December 2017]
Video announcing the Turing Memorial Scholarship used in the Crowdsurf crowdfunding campaign. [May 28,2015]