Are You a Woman Studying STEM in College? Pornhub Wants to Give You $25K

“Are you a woman pursuing an education in STEM? Are you awesome?”

If you answered “yes” to both of those questions — and if you didn’t answer “yes” to at least one of them, we should talk — an unusual source wants to help you pay for college.

For the second year, Pornhub Cares, the pornography site’s charitable arm, will award a $25,000 scholarship to a woman studying a STEM field at a postsecondary institution.

It may seem counterintuitive to apply for a scholarship from a website with a generous “no shoes, no shirt, no problem” programming policy. Some people will find the very thought of it objectionable. But Pornhub wants to help send another woman to college, regardless of where her career goes after graduation.

How to Apply for the Women in Tech Scholarship

By Nov. 30, eligible students should submit a 1,000- to 1,500-word essay that answers the question, “How are you working toward making the world a better place?”

There’s an optional extra-credit step: Submit a two- to five-minute video that “elaborates on the good work that you do and anything else you might want to say.”

Applicants should be “standout” students who contribute to their communities, the site explains, and notes that “originality always scores bonus points.”

You must be at least 18 when you apply, and you need to include your resume and transcript (3.0 GPA or higher) with your essay. The scholarship is open to college and grad students worldwide who are studying some form of science, technology, engineering or math.

Why is a Porn Site Offering a College Scholarship?

Pornhub explains that its website wouldn’t run without a strong team of developers and other tech-savvy employees.

“Women are vastly underrepresented in tech, with the latest diversity reports estimating that women are filling as little as just 20-30% of positions in the field,” the scholarship page notes.

Last year’s winner, MaryAnn Uribe, was chosen for her “compelling personal essay that described her grit and can-do attitude in the face of adversity,” reports the Washington Post.

“We were looking for someone who spread happiness and effected positive change,” Pornhub’s vice president, Corey Price, told the paper. “She’s been through a lot. … When negative things happened, she really stood up for herself.”

Meanwhile, Pornhub Cares is involved in a variety of initiatives unrelated to its main business: a partnership with PETA to encourage spaying and neutering pets; donating proceeds to whale-conservation efforts, and sponsoring a limited-edition clothing line to fund programs to end domestic violence.

The brand recently sponsored fashion brand Hood by Air’s spring/summer 2017 runway show at New York Fashion Week. The line’s shows are usually conversation-worthy, but this season’s show got some extra giggles — and some raised eyebrows — from attendees and online commentators.

Your Turn: Will you apply for this scholarship?

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer for The Penny Hoarder.