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Student veterans possess critical skills and experiences that have the potential to address the growing STEM skills gap in the US.
Raytheon and the non-profit organization Student Veterans of America (SVA) first partnered up in 2012 to help provide the resources, support and advocacy that military veterans need to achieve their goals in higher education.
Together, they created the Raytheon-SVA Scholarship aimed at helping veterans succeed in civilian life through studying science, technology, engineering and math. The scholarship awards $10,000 to student veterans pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering or cybersecurity.
Raytheon and the SVA are currently accepting applications for the 2016 Raytheon-SVA Scholarships. Student veterans who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard can apply at studentveterans.org. The deadline for applications is April 4th, 2016.
Student veterans interested in the scholarship should meet the following criteria:
- Entering their sophomore, junior or senior year of undergraduate study, or be enrolled in a graduate program for the 2015-2016 academic year
- Attending an accredited four-year university in the United States full time
- Pursuing an engineering degree or a degree in a closely related field
- Demonstrate a commitment to and passion for their chosen field of study
- Demonstrate leadership and engagement in their community
- Be a current student veteran, as proven by a DD 214 and transcript
- Have received an honorable discharge, or be in good standing with his/her branch of service
The application process also includes a short essay detailing examples of how and when the student demonstrated exceptional leadership, as well as what sparked their interest in their field of study and what they aim to accomplish with their degree.
In addition, applicants will need to supply documents including:
- Their current resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
- An unofficial copy of current university transcript, updated for the most recently completed semester
- One letter of reference from a professor, adviser or supervisor
- DD 214, Certificate of Discharge
Previous Raytheon-SVA Scholarship recipients included a Navy veteran studying computer science, an Army veteran pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering and an Air Force veteran working toward a Ph.D. in electrical engineering.
For more information on the Student Veterans of America, visit their website.