Microsoft Corp. today announced disbursement of half a million dollars in scholarships, benefiting the largest number of undergraduates since the scholarship program's inception in 1989. The announcement reflects the company's commitment to making the technology field more accessible to a broader student population.

"This couldn't have come at a better time for me or my family," said Stephanie Dudzic, a sophomore at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who won one of the scholarships. "It will help me devote much more time to my area of interest and worry less about the future."

"We are committed to building a strong and diverse pipeline of future computer scientists," said Kristen Roby, senior director of Global College & MBA Recruiting at Microsoft. "Women and minorities have been traditionally underrepresented in the computer science and information technology professions, and we hope to help change this trend and encourage all students to consider computer science majors through this scholarship program."

Each year, Microsoft awards the scholarships to approximately 30 students from across the United States, Canada and Mexico in recognition of their passion for software, academic excellence and ability to make a difference in the software industry.