CyberCorps Scholarships for Service Program application period opens

Dr. Tommy Morris, director of UAH’s Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education, says the CyberCorps Scholarships for Service program is a unique opportunity to become a government civilian employee.

Michael Mercier | UAH

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is requesting student applications for full scholarships to study cyber security in the fourth year of a five-year, $4.2 million National Science Foundation (NSF) CyberCorps Scholarships for Service (SFS) program.

“The Scholarship for Service is a great way to pay for school and to serve your country,” says Dr. Tommy Morris, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of UAH’s Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education. “Scholarship recipients serve a paid internship during the summer term in a government cybersecurity related position, and must work for government after graduation. This is a unique opportunity to become a government civilian employee.”

To receive scholarship support, students awarded a scholarship must be enrolled full time at UAH, a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. The scholarships pay for tuition, reimburse health insurance up to a maximum of $3,000 a year, reimburse books up to $2,000 a year and pay for professional development travel up to $4,000 a year.

In addition, a stipend is paid each academic year in the amount of $22,500 for undergraduates or $34,000 for graduate students. Scholarships are awarded for two academic years (four semesters) for undergraduates and master’s degree students and for three years (six semesters) for doctoral students. A single student cannot receive more than one SFS scholarship.

A U.S. government service obligation of one year of service in a cyber-security related position for each year of scholarship received is required following graduation. In addition, students on scholarship are expected to serve in a government cyber-security related position for a paid internship during the summer term. Participation in a government job fair in Washington D.C. is required of all students supported by the program.

“Local government agencies and U.S. Army commands are big fans of the Scholarship for Service as a source for talent, since cybersecurity is such a high-demand field,” says Dr. Morris.

To be eligible to apply for an SFS scholarship, the applicant must be a full-time student with a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) as an undergraduate and 3.2 GPA as a graduate student and be in a bachelor’s (junior or above) or graduate degree program in the discipline of Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Systems or Cybersecurity.

The applicant must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States. and meet all requirements for employment in federal service. In addition, the offer of a scholarship is contingent upon the student obtaining admission into a qualifying UAH program of study. Students selected for this program will be required to sign a service agreement that outlines the obligation to serve in a federal government or equivalent position after graduation.

Students selected for scholarship support as undergraduates must be entering their junior year of studies. For applicants not already admitted to UAH, any offer of scholarship will be contingent on admission acceptance to UAH in one of the disciplines listed above.

To apply for this scholarship, applicants must submit the following to Dr. Tommy Morris, Director, Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education, Room 324, Student Services Building, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, 301 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, Ala., 35899 not later than April 1, 2017. Applications may be mailed or delivered in person.

• A cover letter that provides the applicant's full name, school address, home address, cell phone number, home phone number, student email address, and a statement that the applicant is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States. In addition, the cover letter should describe the applicant's current academic progress (BS, MS, or PhD student) and date of anticipated graduation.
• A copy of all of the applicant’s transcripts;
• ACT or SAT score for undergraduates;
• Two letters of reference (professional contacts preferred, must not be family members);
• A letter from the applicant not to exceed two typewritten, single-spaced, pages that discusses the applicant's motivation for applying, interest in cybersecurity, any past relevant experiences, and future plans. Please include any current or past military service.;
• An updated resume;
• Completed applicant information sheet.