U.S. Department of Homeland Security Awards 130 Scholarships and Fellowships to Undergraduate and Graduate Researchers

Release Date: 08/24/05 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: Donald Tighe, 202-282-8010
August 24, 2005

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology directorate today announced that its Scholarship and Fellowship Program awarded full-tuition scholarships and stipends to 130 college juniors and graduate students studying math, engineering and science, bringing the total number of current participants in the program to nearly 300.

“The challenge of securing our Nation across a wide range of threats requires a new generation of scientists and researchers focused on the Homeland Security mission,” said Dr. Charles E. McQueary, Under Secretary for Science & Technology. “This exceptional group of scholars reflects our commitment to engaging the intellect and innovation of today’s students for the long-term security of America.”

The DHS Scholarship and Fellowship Program is designed to support, stimulate, and tap into the intellectual capital in academia to address current and future homeland security challenges, while at the same time educating and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers dedicated to improving homeland security.

The undergraduate scholarships for students entering their junior year are awarded full school tuition and fees, a $1,000 monthly stipend for nine months and $500 weekly for a summer internship at a DHS-affiliated facility to take place the summer between their junior and senior years. Award recipients are eligible to request a one-year renewal for their senior year.

The graduate fellowships include full tuition and fees, a $2,300 monthly stipend for the full year, and the annual awards are renewable for a total of up to three years. An off-campus internship at a DHS-affiliated facility is also required for the graduate students. All awards start with the current academic year.

Nearly 700 applications were received for review by an internal and external panel of science and technology experts. The Homeland Security Scholarship and Fellowship Program is open to all U.S. students interested in pursuing scientific and technological research that can be applied to the Homeland Security vision of preserving our freedoms and protecting the country. This year’s 130 award recipients include students from 64 institutions in 32 states, including the District of Columbia.

Scholars and Fellows participate as full-time summer interns from 8 to 10 weeks in DHS-designated science and technology venues including Homeland Security activities at DHS headquarters, DHS Centers of Excellence, DHS laboratories, Department of Energy laboratories, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Several of the students will continue work started this summer during their internships.

The Homeland Security Scholarship and Fellowship program is coordinated for the DHS Science and Technology directorate by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, a U.S. Department of Energy facility focusing on scientific initiatives and educational programs.

For more information about the Homeland Security Scholarship and Fellowship Program or to apply, visit http://www.orau.gov/dhsed. Applications for the next competition cycle will be available in early December.

The U.S. Department Homeland Security’s Science & Technology directorate serves as the primary research and development arm of the Department, utilizing the nation's scientific and technological resources to provide federal, state and local officials with the technology and capabilities to protect the homeland.

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This page was last reviewed/modified on 08/24/05 00:00:00.