‘The Big Bang Theory’ Scholarship Expands

Scholarship To Support 1 Extra Student Each Year Until They Reach Total Of 10

Honoring their 12th and final season “The Big Bang Theory” Scholarship will support one extra student each year until they reach a total of 10. This doubles the amount of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) students that will receive scholarships from the endowment.

“The Big Bang Theory” Scholarship was created in 2015 for UCLA students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics just like the fields pursued by characters in the series.

Although the show is ending, the scholarship will continue. The first group of Big Bang scholars that will graduate this spring recently visited the set to be celebrated by the cast and crew.

“After the sun has burned out and this is a cold, lonely rock, we will still be giving,” Lorre joked, switching rapidly between sincerity and humor as he congratulated the first group of Big Bang scholars on their graduation this spring.

The show’s endowment has raised $5.5 million for eligible Big Bang scholars to receive $15,000 annually for four years of grad school at UCLA or a one-time grant of up to $15,000 at other UC campuses.

Mayim Bialik who plays Amy, holds a doctorate in neuroscience from UCLA spoke to the students about her time at UCLA.

“I’m not the only Bruin here, but I think I’m the proudest Bruin here,” Bialik said. “Being a student is not just going to classes. It’s also about how you spend your time, what kind of social community you build, what kind of community you’re able to build outside of your classes — ”

The students also have an on-campus club, and the show supports the club’s events, from study nights and beach clean-ups, to tours of SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.

The show created an endowment unlike any other at UCLA, said Rhea Turteltaub, vice chancellor for external affairs, as she reminisced about the formation of the scholarship.

The endowment was originally started with a donation by the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation and more than 50 people associated with the series including the show’s stars, executive producers, writers and crew, partners such as Warner Bros. Television, CBS, ICM Partners, United Talent Agency and UCLA physics professor David Saltzberg, the show’s science consultant and more.

Read more at http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/the-big-bang-theory-to-support-twice-as-many-students