Tinkerer’s Path Scholarship
Curiosity, creativity, and hands-on problem-solving are essential to improving the world for generations to come.
This scholarship recognizes a beloved uncle, Madhavan Nair, who was a lifelong tinkerer. He loved taking things apart, fixing them, and creating practical solutions with his hands. His curiosity and ingenuity were an inspiration, and these values should be fostered amongst today’s youth so they can carry on his legacy of using creativity for good.
This scholarship seeks to support students who enjoy tinkering, building, and experimenting, and who want to use those skills to help others.
Any low-income undergraduate student pursuing engineering or computer science may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they have volunteering experience. The ideal candidate demonstrates curiosity, creativity, and a passion for hands-on problem-solving. They enjoy tinkering, building, or designing - whether through 3D printing, engineering projects, maker spaces, or self-driven experimentation - and are interested in using these skills to help people or improve everyday life. Prior experience may include personal projects, coursework, internships, volunteering, or community-based work, especially where creativity and practical impact intersect.
To apply, tell us about a project or idea that reflects your curiosity and creativity, and how your approach to problem-solving impacts the way you hope to make a difference in the world.
Tell us about a project, idea, or experiment that reflects your curiosity and creativity. How does your approach to problem solving shape the way you want to make a positive impact in the world?
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FAQ
The application deadline is May 17, 2026. Winners will be announced on Jun 18, 2026.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Jun 18, 2026. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.