University seeks applicants for cyber-security scholarships

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 22, 2014) – The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is requesting student applications for full scholarships to study Cybersecurity that it expects to be funded by the National Science Foundation's Scholarship for Service (SFS) program.

"UAH anticipates being awarded this very competitive Scholarship for Service program by the National Science Foundation in the very near future," said Vice President for Research Dr. Ray Vaughn. "We are delighted to be able to solicit applications for the program and believe these scholarships will allow UAH to attract highly capable graduate students as well as to support our very best undergraduate students as they pursue future careers in Cybersecurity."

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 $2,000 a year, reimburse books up to $1,000 a year and pay for professional development travel up to $3,000 a year.

In addition, a stipend is paid each academic year in the amount of $20,000 for undergraduates, $25,000 for master's degree students and $30,000 for doctoral 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 Cybersecurity related position for each year of scholarship received is required following graduation. In addition, students on scholarship are expected to serve in a government Cybersecurity related position for a paid internship during the summer semester. Participation in a government job fair in early January in Washington D.C. is required of all students supported by the program.

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 Information Assurance and Security with a focus on Cybersecurity.

The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, be able to obtain a U.S. security clearance 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. Ray Vaughn, Vice President for Research, M-17 Von Braun Research Hall, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Al 35899 not later than June 13, 2014.   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 U.S. citizen. 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 the student's most current transcript;
• ACT or SAT score for undergraduates;
• Two letters of reference (must not be family members);
• A letter from the applicant not to exceed two typewritten 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;
• Resume.

Failure to satisfy the academic requirements of the program or to complete the service requirement will result in forfeiture of the scholarship award, which will revert to a student loan with repayments pro-rated accordingly to reflect partial service completed. The institution is responsible for collecting the repayment amounts, including interest, consistent with the provisions of part B or D of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

All forfeited scholarship funds, less grantee costs associated with collection of the repayment not to exceed 5 percent of the forfeited amount, will be returned to the United States Treasury and may not be re-used by the awardee institution. Scholarship recipients in coordination with the institution and the principle investigator may petition the NSF Program Office to waive or suspend repayment of scholarships in cases of extreme hardship or other circumstances that would preclude the fulfillment of the service obligation.

Questions: A Frequently Asked Questions list can be found at https://www.sfs.opm.gov/StudFAQ.aspx.

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