WordCamp Asia and WordCamp Europe Added to Kim Parsell Memorial Scholarship Program

As announced at the 2024 WordPress Foundation Meeting, the Kim Parsell Memorial Scholarship has been expanded to include WordCamp Europe and WordCamp Asia. Traditionally supporting a woman WordPress contributor to attend WordCamp US, the scholarship now assists women facing financial challenges in attending these three flagship WordCamp events.

The scholarship honors Kim Parsell, a cherished member of the WordPress community and regarded as one of the first “women of WordPress”. Known fondly as #wpmom, Kim was a dedicated volunteer who devoted countless hours to the WordPress project and was a strong advocate for women entering the tech industry.

In 2014, Kim received a travel stipend from the WordPress Foundation, allowing her to attend the WordPress Community Summit held alongside WordCamp San Francisco—a transformative experience she cherished.The WordPress Foundation now offers this scholarship in her memory.

The announcement post states: “ This expansion honors Kim’s legacy and her dedication to inclusivity and diversity within the WordPress community, making it possible for more community members to attend these inspiring events.”

To qualify, applicants must:

Identify as a woman

Actively contribute to the WordPress project

Have never attended WordCamp Asia or WordCamp Europe before

Require financial assistance to attend WordCamp Asia or WordCamp Europe 2025

Applications are open until November 30, 2024, for both WordCamp Asia and WordCamp Europe, with notifications sent by December 21, 2024. Applications for WordCamp US will open in the coming months. The scholarship covers travel to the host city, hotel accommodation for the event duration, and a WordCamp ticket. It does not include airport transfers, meals, or other incidental expenses.

The scholarship’s inaugural recipient in 2015 was Anyssa Ferreira, a Brazilian designer, feminist, and WordPress community activist. Last year, it was awarded to Cynthia Norman, a WordPress developer and Web designer, with a background in training and education.