The Siebel Scholars program was established by the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation in 2000 to recognize the most talented students at graduate schools of business, computer science, bioengineering, and energy science in the United States, China, France, Italy, and Japan.
Description
The Siebel Scholars program was originally established with grants totaling more than $45 million. The scholar selection process varies from school to school. According to one report, "On average, Siebel Scholars rank in the top 5 percent of their class, and many within the top 1 percent."[1]
According to Mark Snir, head of the Computer Science department at UI Champagne-Urbana, Siebel was able to "...create and build Siebel Systems into a leading provider of business applications software... through his Siebel Scholars program he allows some of the most talented students in computer science and business at Illinois and other major universities to address society's most pressing issues, such as stem-cell research."[2]
The Siebel Energy Institute also created a partnership with the Siebel Scholars Foundation, expanding the program to include outstanding leaders in the field of energy science at its universities.[3] Siebel Scholars are key advisors to the Siebel Foundation, guiding the development of innovative programs the foundation initiates. The annual Siebel Scholars conference and ongoing planning sessions throughout the year are an integral part of the Siebel Scholars program. Thomas Siebel described the role of Seibel Scholars in 2016:
We have over 1,000 Siebel Scholars today. They're very, very accomplished. It's fun to be able to associate with them and hold our scholars conference. I just though it would be very interesting to develop a global community of people who are highly connected who were exceptionally bright and accomplished.
We bring together a multiplicity of disciplines there -- in engineering, in computer science, bioengineering, business, environmental science. ... We wrestle with challenging topics and we have a lot of fun.
Siebel Systems, Inc., established the Siebel Scholars program in April 2000, to fund awards for fifty-five graduate students in business and computer science at eleven institutions of higher learning.[5] Annually, five students named by each institution received $25,000 to defray their second-year educational costs.[5]Thomas M. Siebel, chairman and CEO of Siebel Systems, said "Siebel Systems wishes to support those efforts on a personal level, and the SiebelScholars Program is our way of helping develop the talent."[5] Siebel Scholars Foundation trademarked SIEBELSCHOLARS, listing as goods and services: "Arranging and conducting educational conferences concerning political, academic, business, climate, and energy issues for Siebel Scholars with leading experts on global issues."[6] The Foundation also supported "an alumni association of all Siebel Scholars...(to) convene at a conference to be hosted annually by one of the participating schools".[5]
In December 2000, Siebel Systems, Inc., named Kip A. Frey, who formerly led OpenSite Technologies, to lead the Siebel Scholars program, with annual funding of $1.375 million a year in scholarships.[7] By 2012, each Siebel Scholar received a $35,000 award for a final year of graduate studies.[1]
In 2014, the budget for the Siebel Scholar program was $40 million annually.[8]
A key element of the program is the annual Siebel Scholars Conference. Each year, current and past Scholars convene at the annual Conference. The Scholars gather with university faculty and thought leaders to discuss and debate global issues.[9]
^"Siebel Energy Institute Established with $10 Million Grant". India Energy News; New Delhi. August 4, 2015. ProQuest1701521336.
^Wurth, Julie (9 Oct 2016). "'I think it's for everybody': Thomas Siebel Q&A". News Gazette. Champaign, Ill. pp. A.1. ProQuest1846958220.
^ abcde"Siebel Systems Establishes 'Siebel Scholars' Program; Awards to Top Business and Computer Science Schools' Top Students". Business Wire. April 4, 2000. ProQuest445814843.
^"USPTO Issues Trademark: SIEBEL SCHOLARS. (Reg. No. 3862650)". US Fed News Service, Including US State News. 26 October 2010. ProQuest759838454.