Linux creates scholarship for developer do-gooders and women

The Linux Foundation this morning announced a change to its annual Linux Training Scholarship Program with new categories that reflect the evolving world of computer programming.

These new scholarship categories come with special awards for “whiz kids,” women in Linux, sysadmins, developer do-gooders, and developers who work on the Linux kernel.

Given the demand for Linux-trained professionals in the job market, it’s interesting to see the foundation focusing specifically on women and socially-conscious developers in particular. This focus mirrors some of the most interesting trends in development in the real world.

Recipients will get a year of free instruction in one of the following areas:

• Embedded Linux Development
• Developing Device Drivers
• Linux Kernel Internals and Debugging
• Developing Applications for Linux
• Linux System Administration
• Linux Network Management
• Linux Performance Tuning

Here’s an overview of Linux Foundation training programs:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfnKpBw_gcA&w=853&h=480]

Also new this year: Scholarship recipients will get a 30-minute, 1-on-1 session with a Linux Foundation training instructor.

“We aim to help meet today’s unprecedented demand for Linux professionals by providing Linux training opportunities direct from the source,” said Amanda McPherson, the vice president of marketing and developer services, in a statement on the news.

“With more than 500 Linux training scholarship applications received last year and the Linux Jobs Report showing demand for Linux talent at an all-time high, we hope our Linux Training Scholarship Program can surface some of the talent that is showing incredible promise for influencing the future of Linux but until now were diamonds in the rough.”

Applications for the program will close in about one week, so apply soon if you’re interested.

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