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 You are in: Under Secretary for Management > Bureau of Human Resources > Family Liaison Office > Education and Youth > College and Beyond  
Under Secretary for Management
Bureau of Human Resources
Family Liaison Office
Education and Youth
College and Beyond
Scholarships, Financial Aid and Student Internships
  

Scholarships, Financial Aid and Student Internships

A cautionary note: Be wary of scholarship scams. If you have to pay money to compete for a scholarship it may be nothing but a way to solicit your money. The money being solicited from applicants may be the only funds in the "scholarship fund". The scam may have a very small payoff, with most of the money being pocketed by the "scholarship" group, and your chances to see any are like a lottery-just slightly better than nothing. You can read about and report such scams at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/ouchalrt.htm

Scholarships for Eligible USG Family Members

  • American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) Merit Awards and Financial Aid Scholarships - AFSA gives merit, art merit and need based awards. Open to children (high school seniors and college undergraduates) of Foreign Service employees. One-time only merit awards and renewable need-based financial aid scholarships. Awards range from $1,000 - $3,000. Applications are available beginning November 1. Visit AFSA's web page at http://www.afsa.org/scholar/index.cfm for complete details or contact dec@afsa.org or tel: 1-800-704-2372, ext. 504.
  • Cox Foundation Scholarship to George Mason University's Certificate Program in Special Education - Deadline has passed for the 2007 year.  Stay tuned for information about the 2008 application cycle. Read more
  • DACOR Bacon House Foundation Dreyfus Fellowship Awards for students enrolled at Yale University who are children of a Foreign Service employee, active or retired. Email contact: prog.coord@dacorbacon.org or 202-682-0500 or 800-344-9127.
  • Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) http://www.feea.org/scholarships.shtml scholarship information for current civilian federal and postal employees with at least three years of federal service and their dependent family members.  The fund has awarded over $3.5 million in college scholarships exclusively to federal and postal employees and their family members. The FEEA scholarship program http://www.feea.org/scholarships.shtml is sponsored in part by the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, which provides at least one special distinction scholarship in each of FEEA's 26 regions. Other corporate sponsors include FPMI and the publisher of Federal Personnel Digest. The majority of the funding for this program, however, comes from federal employee contributions to FEEA Pledge #1234 during the CFC. The amount of money donated in each region directly determines how much is available for scholarships in that area.
  • Foreign Service. Children or grandchildren of Foreign Service personnel are given priority for the S. Pinkney Tuck Scholarship at Dartmouth College. However, it is based on financial need and would be offered if selected through the regular application process.
  • Foreign Service. Children of Foreign Service personnel, need-based scholarship at Yale, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert H. Kinney. Apply to Director of Financial Aid, email myra.smith@yale.edu  or 203-432-0360.
  • Foreign Service. Daughters of Foreign Service personnel, The Polly Richardson Lukens Memorial Scholarship and the Gilan Scholarship (preference given for freshman) awards, based on financial need at Vassar College. Apply to disauter@vassar.edu, or 845-437-7547.
  • State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) members' scholarships are available for need-based, currently enrolled students. http://www.sdfcu.org  Email Scholarship Coordinator at marketing@sdfcu.org or 703-706-5019. Applications available in February.

More Scholarship Information

Programs for Financing a College Education

  • Americorps - a service program, which will help pay off future or current student loans in exchange for community service. Information available: http://www.americorps.org
  • Maryland Prepaid College Trust - information accessed through their web site at http://www.collegesavingsmd.org  or by phone 1-888-463-4723.
  • Virginia Education Savings Trust (VEST) - information on various Commonwealth of Virginia plans including, Virginia College Savings Plan, Prepaid Education Program (VPEP), and the Virginia Education Savings Trust (VEST) accessed through their web site http://www.vpep.state.va.us.  The VEST plan is available to all US citizens or resident aliens, and does not restrict use of the funds to a Virginia school. You can ask questions or request a folder of information from their toll free number: 1-888-567-0540, or 804-786-0719.

Financial Aid Information

Note For Financial Aid: It is essential that parents file all the required financial assistance materials by the deadline posted for each individual college. A family must file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be considered for financial assistance. It is recommended that parents file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. See http://www.fafsa.ed.gov for more information. Some colleges also require the CSS Profile. CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE� is the financial aid application service of the College Board.  For more information, see http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/scholarships-and-aid/8374.html. Students accepted at or currently enrolled at a university or college should check with the institution's Financial Aid Office to learn more.

Student Internships

  • Studentjobs.gov provides information on thousands of Federal Government job opportunities. There is no charge for using Studentjobs.gov and users are not required to pre-register to look for a job.
  • Student Internships at the Department of State - Student Programs enable students to obtain job experience in a foreign affairs environment. Some students work in Washington, D.C., while others have the opportunity to work at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
  • Rising Star Internships

Internships Programs that Offer Tuition Assistance

These agencies offer a range of undergraduate, graduate, summer, and internship programs. Generally they pay costs toward tuition, offer a salary, and expect you to commit to employment with them for a number of years after completing a 4 year college program or graduate school at the university of your choice. They are needs based awards but not dependent upon parents being in government employment. Contact them directly for more information.

Look under the employment section of these web sites.

  • Defense Intelligence Agency's Undergraduate Training Assistance Program and other programs - http://www.dia.mil or phone DIA, Civilian Personnel Division, Resources Manager, 202-231-4713 / staffing@dia.mil.
  • National Security Agency Undergraduate Training Program and other programs - http://www.nsa.gov. Tel: 1-800-669-0703 or 410-854-4725.
  • Central Intelligence Agency Undergraduate Scholar Program - http://www.cia.gov College Relations or Tel: 703-613-8388.

Tax Information

IRS Helpline: 1-800-829-1040, http://www.irs.ustreas.gov  You can download forms and information: Tax Benefits for Higher Education, publication 970.

FLO Weblinks for College and Beyond

Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
Contact the Family Liaison Office

  
Highlights
Additional Resources Also see FLO's Meeting College Costs, Chapter 15, Education Options for Foreign Service Family Members. 
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