National Security Scholarships

National Security confronts the formidable challenge of preventing foreign adversaries from gaining access to sensitive or classified national security information, collects, processes and disseminates intelligence information from foreign signals for intelligence and counter intelligence purposes as well as support military operations to defeat terrorists and their organizations at home and abroad, consistent with U.S. laws and the protection of privacy and civil liberties.

Focusing on the needs of the intelligence and defense industry in Maryland, the I-Fund's National Security Scholars Program (NSSP) offers opportunities for scholarship, assistance with national security clearance processing, internships and future employment to students who attend an I-Fund member college or university.

Now in its 10th year, the NSSP has awarded more than $1.8M in scholarships to more than 135 students attending an I-Fund member college or university. Additionally, the NSSP provides a network of opportunity to its partners for the purpose of maintaining a pipeline of future hires addressing current and future employment challenges of the national security industry in Maryland.

Download NSSP Brochure

Program Partners (NSSP Board):

AAI, AT&T, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI, Capstone Corporation, Computer Sciences Corporation, e.magination, General Dynamics, Harris Corporation, Lockheed Martin, ManTech, Raytheon, SAIC, Serco, SRA and the National Security Agency.

Program Benefits:

• $15,000 Scholarship Award
• Possibility of a paid summer internship in the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area
• Assistance with processing towards a national security clearance
• Unique opportunity to explore a future in the national security field and obtain employment leads with the I-Fund's national security industry partners

Eligibility requirements:

• Must attend an I-Fund member college
• Completion and timely submission of I-Fund NSSP application — Application includes typed essay, resume (both paper & electronic submitted to Lsuboti2@jhmi.edu), 2 letters of recommendation (address to the National Security Scholars Program Board), and official transcript of grades (students who transferred to an I-Fund College/University must also request a certified copy of grades for credits from their transferring institution) by Monday October 5, 2009 (sooner if instructed by your campus liaison)
• U.S. Citizenship
• Expressed interest in a career in the national security field
• Summer internship obligation if offered. (Internship is contingent upon successful completion of a national security clearance.) An internship is required as eligibility for the I-Fund NSSP scholarship. All applicants will be considered for summer internships with industry or NSA.
• Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Minimum 24 credit hours at time of application, but not later than October deadline of applicant’s junior year
• Please check page 2 of the application for most current list of preferred majors (for St. John’s College students only: applicants must have a demonstrated record of and achievement in one of the major areas)
• Candidates must be available for an in-person interview on Friday, November 6 or Saturday, November 14, 2009.

How to Apply:

The I-Fund National Security Scholars Program (NSSP) accepts applications September 1st through the first Monday in October (this year - October 5, 2009).

An application for the I-Fund National Security Scholars Program may be obtained online. Complete the application, sign it and forward it with the required supporting documents to your Financial Aid Office no later than Monday October 5, 2009 (sooner if instructed by your campus liaison).

Up-to-date information is posted on this website or you may contact Lori Subotich, Director of Programs & Scholarships for the I-Fund at 443-997-5703 or e-mail Lsubot@jhmi.edu.

Each student must complete an application form and include all of the information requested. The information on the form must be typed and legible. Please do not staple documents together. All documents should be single sided for ease of copying. The following information must be included with the application:

1. Typed resume - (Submitted both with your application and electronically, in Microsoft Word format, to Lsubot@jhmi.edu) Resume should have your name on top of all pages
2. Essay - A 300-500 word typed essay (choose a topic from the three provided and discuss)
1. President Obama has stated that his administration is committed to providing greater transparency of government operations and better access to public data. At the same time, there is great public concern of individual privacy and protecting personal information. Give us your views on the proper balance between better access to public data and protection of individual privacy.

2. Science and engineering have the potential to improve human lives but can also have unforeseen consequences. Describe a situation in which science and engineering has been or could be used to improve the security of our nation including negative repercussions. Your example may be drawn from history, current events, or speculative for the future.

3. Describe the ways in which the current global economic crisis represents a threat to the United States' national security. Outline specific measures that can be taken to preserve and/or increase national security in the midst of a global recession.
3. Letters of Recommendation - at least two letters of recommendation (address to the National Security Scholars Program Board). For example, letters may be from teachers, professors, counselors, clergy, community leaders, etc.


4. A certified transcript of grades - request these early, as this time of year may present a delay for campus offices. Additionally, students who transferred to an I-Fund member college need to request an additional certified transcript of grades/credits from transferring institution.

Selection, Notification and Scholar Expectations:

Scholarship candidate selection is a multiple step process (see below). The NSSP process runs from September 1 through May 31 of each academic year.

1. Deadline for submitting application is first Monday in October.
2. Initial review of applications is made by the NSSP panel in mid October. All candidates are notified whether or not selected for an interview on or about October 29th.
3. Candidate interviews are scheduled for Saturday, November 6 and Friday, November 12, 2010. Each candidate will be assigned a specific interview date/time. Due to the number of interviews scheduled, the date/time is not negotiable. Location of the interview is at the Booz Allen Hamilton offices in Annapolis Junction, Maryland 21701.
4. All applicants receive e-mail notification with results of the scholarship interview process on or before December 1st. Selected applicants will move forward to security clearance processing. Processing is ongoing between January and May 31 each year.
5. Candidates who are approved for a national security clearance are reviewed by the NSSP Board for internship placement with program partners and notified of any scholarship award no later than first week in June.
6. Housing is candidate's responsibility; however, I-Fund will provide information or assistance with available housing options. Candidates should inquire about housing during interview process.
7. Successful candidates are expected to attend the Annual NSSP Award Dinner held early June at a downtown Baltimore location.
8. Successful candidates must confirm (email-signed) acceptance of internship by the deadline communicated to candidates via email from Lori Subotich, Director of Programs & Scholarships. A Thank You letter addressed to "The I-Fund NSSP Supporters" is required and should be signed and sent (along with an electronic copy to Lsuboti2@jhmi.edu) to
   the I-Fund no later than July 5^theach year.
9. Successful candidates must complete the Internship Feedback Form and submit to I-Fund no later than September 15, following their summer internship