DHS Scholarship and Fellowship Program
2009 Competition Guidelines and Materials

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ANNOUNCEMENT:  Competition Closed

The current competition cycle for this program is now closed. The information presented below is for reference only. The next competition cycle will be announced in the fall on this web site.

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Undergraduate Scholarship Details

Eligibility

• You must be a U.S. citizen as of the application deadline.
• If you have earned a bachelor’s degree as of the application deadline, you are ineligible.
• You must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale, averaged over all U.S. institutions attended, including fall 2008 grades if enrolled during that term.
• You must be majoring in a homeland security science, technology, engineering or mathematics (HS-STEM) field which is a STEM field with coursework and/or research relevant to a homeland security research area. See DHS Research Areas.
• If you have been attending college full-time, you must be in your second year of college attendance as of the application deadline.
• If you have attended college on a part-time basis, or a combination of part-time and full-time, since completing high school, you must have completed a total of at least 45 but no more than 60 semester hours (60 to 75 quarter hours) as of the application deadline.
• If you have any commitments such as active military service, a co-op program, or study abroad that would prevent you from attending school full-time, attending the fall 2009 DHS HS-STEM Career Development Conference and participating full-time in a 10-week internship during the summer of 2010, or completing the homeland security service requirement following receipt of your degree, you are ineligible.

Stipend

• $1,000/month for 9 months during the academic year; $5,000 for the 10-week summer internship

Tuition

• Full tuition and mandatory, nonrefundable fees paid

Duration

• Appointments are for two years, beginning fall 2009, given satisfactory academic progress and availability of funding.

Research Internship and Service Requirement

• A 10-week, continuous, off-campus research internship at DHS or a DHS-affiliated facility will be required during the summer between your first and second year appointments. Internship placement will be coordinated through this program.
• A one-year, full-time service requirement in a relevant HS-STEM field will be required. This requirement will be fulfilled with paid employment that you will secure through traditional job search techniques. The work done during this service must be applicable to one of the 16 homeland security research areas. The one-year service commitment must be served at a DHS-approved STEM venue and must be completed within two years of your final stipend payment. Options for completing this service requirement at a DHS-approved STEM venue include full-time service for: (1) one continuous year; or (2) two six-month periods at no more than two locations.

Other Important Items

• You must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited college or university located in the United States or its territories during your appointment. However, this condition would not prohibit a student from doing some of their study or research at a foreign institution, with approval from DHS.
• If you are currently enrolled at a 2-year institution and you are awarded a scholarship, before you can accept the scholarship, you must be accepted at a 4-year institution that has agreed to accept your first two years of study as transfer credit.
• Because this scholarship has a required internship during the summer following the first year of support, it is not appropriate for students who plan to graduate in less than three semesters or four quarters once funding begins.
• No deferrals of a DHS award, the internship component, or the service requirement will be allowed.
• Students in a 4-year or 5-year joint baccalaureate-master’s degree program should apply in their second year of college attendance.
• If you accept a DHS Scholarship, you cannot accept any other scholarships, grants or federal loans while on your DHS appointment except educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and need-based assistance approved by DHS.

Application Deadlines and Notes

• January 6, 2009: You must submit an online application form, including all essay questions, by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on this date.
• January 13, 2009: You must have two (2) online reference report forms submitted on your behalf, by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on this date. No paper or e-mail attachments accepted.
• January 13, 2009: You must have an official academic transcript from all postsecondary institutions attended, including fall 2008 grades if enrolled, submitted on your behalf by this date. Note this is a postmark deadline, not a receipt deadline. There is no need to send information via overnight or special delivery.
• January 13, 2009: If you are a U.S. citizen by birth and do not have a U.S. passport (current or expired), you must submit a copy of your birth certificate by this date. Note this is a postmark deadline, not a receipt deadline. There is no need to send information via overnight or special delivery.
• We will not accept materials via fax or as e-mail attachments. Do not send duplicate items via fax or e-mail.
• Do not submit resumes, official copies of standardized test scores including SAT or ACT test scores which are self-reported on your electronic application, off-prints, manuscripts, video tapes, slides, photographs, or other extraneous materials. Do not submit more than the designated page limit for essay questions in the application. The above items will not be used in the review of your application.

Evaluation Process

Applications will be evaluated by a review panel of scientists and engineers who are experts in one or more of the chosen fields. The evaluation will be based on the student's academic record, submitted test scores, reference reports, and essays. Reviewers will provide an overall rating and a separate rating on each of the following:

• Academic Record
  Transcripts are reviewed and evaluated in conjunction with information on the student's program and information from submitted reference reports.
• Reference Reports
  The best reference reports come from professors who know the applicant and can make an informed judgment about the applicant’s fitness for the proposed program of study.
• SAT or ACT Test Scores (self-reported on your electronic application)
  These are used to enhance other information related to academic potential. There are no minimum test-score requirements. Applications without test scores will be reviewed, but strong test scores can enhance other evidence of potential to succeed in an academic program.
• Research Experience Essay
  It is understood that scholarship applicants are less likely than fellowship applicants to have research experience at the time of application. For those who do have research experience, the best essays will do three things: succinctly describe the specific research experience, including the specific role that you played if you were part of a larger project; list any publications or presentations of research findings; and tell the reviewers what was gained from the experience.
• Current Research Interests Essay
  The best essays demonstrate both an ability to define a research problem relevant to the DHS mission and an understanding of how such a problem might be solved. Essays should contain only original thoughts or other properly attributed information.
• Homeland Security Service Essay
  Reviewers will look for evidence that the applicant is interested in a career relevant to HS-STEM and has a commitment to the mission and goals of the agency demonstrated by working for an employer with a direct relationship with DHS S&T. The best essays will demonstrate insight into the career that interests you, the steps you may take to achieve your goals, and indicate how the scholarship will contribute to your career goals.

The most highly rated applications are then reviewed by DHS S&T. The review focuses on factors of special concern to DHS such as the relevance of the applicant's research interest. The final selection of scholars is made by DHS.

The DHS Scholarship and Fellowship Program welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Conditions of Award

Detailed conditions of the awards made to the 2008 Class of DHS Scholars and Fellows are available for your review. Those offered an award will have time to review the final 2009 award conditions before acceptance of the award.

To begin an application you must respond to a list of questions that will help you determine your eligibility to apply to the DHS Scholarship and Fellowship Program. You must answer all questions in the order they appear to get access to an application. There are several opportunities in the questionnaire for you to e-mail us if your answers to the questions do not result in access to an application. Thank you for your interest in the program and for taking the time to answer these questions as accurately as possible. Use the begin scholarship application link on the left to begin your application.