AFCEA Educational Foundation Celebrates 40 Years

The AFCEA International Educational Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary. In 1979, the association established a foundation to support future communications and electronics engineers and scientists. The foundation began offering scholarships and expanded to classroom grants.

Chapter educational foundations continue to support students and educators in their local communities through scholarships, grants, internships, science fairs and other impactful events.

Applications are now being accepted for AFCEA Educational Foundation spring scholarships that benefit a variety of focus areas, from students seeking to make a difference in STEM-related fields to teachers engaging students with STEM concepts in their classrooms.

The AFCEA International Educational Foundation also is expanding its reach to support STEM learning abroad through grants to chapters in Europe. The funding will be used for innovative STEM projects.

Approved grants will impact more than 100 students with engaging programs such as a Cybersecurity Capacity Building project, a Cybersecurity Apprenticeship project, a Robotics program and a Wind Turbine STEM program.

European Chapter Grants provide funding up to $1,000 to promote STEM innovation in classrooms. Applications are received on a rolling basis and evaluated twice per year. Chapters are encouraged to apply and contribute funds to increase student impact.

More information is available on the Europe STEM Grants page of the Educational Foundation’s website.

Be a part of the drive to support STEM education by donating to a local AFCEA chapter’s educational foundation or the AFCEA International Educational Foundation. Individual contributions affect the next generation of STEM leaders and the future of STEM in the workplace both now and into the future.

SPRING SCHOLARSHIPS 

New this year is the Col. Kathleen Swacina Scholarship, which will award $1,000 to a deserving female this spring. The scholarship is available to students majoring in STEM-related subjects and enrolled full-time as an undergraduate or graduate at a college or university in the state of Georgia. Eligible students also may attend a community college with intent to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Applicants must be an AFCEA member or veteran of the U.S. armed forces or the descendant of an AFCEA member or veteran of the U.S. armed forces. Applications can be submitted through the AFCEA Educational Foundation’s online form. The deadline is March 10, 2020.

Atlanta Chapter President Col. Swacina retired from the U.S. Army and is a life member of AFCEA. She has received several awards, including the Medal of Merit and the Women’s Appreciation Award.

In addition to the new Col. Kathleen Swacina Scholarship, the AFCEA International Educational Foundation offers ROTC scholarships; a Graduate Diversity scholarship; several STEM Major scholarships; a STEM Teacher Scholarship; and War Veterans Scholarships. Many of AFCEA’s spring scholarships are made possible by generous contributions from individual donors, AFCEA chapters and corporate members.

Information, eligibility details and spring scholarship applications can be found on the AFCEA Educational Foundation website. The deadline is April 10, 2020.