WID Horizons Scholarship

Through the WID Scholar program, Women In Defense encourages women to pursue careers supporting U.S. national security with a focus on defense or foreign policy.

Since its establishment in 1988, the WID Scholar program, previously HORIZONS, has awarded more than $1,000,000 to more than 200 recipients pursuing degrees ranging from law to engineering to math to public policy. Awards are based on academic achievement, participation in defense and national security activities, field of study, work experience, statements of interest, recommendations, and financial need. Recipients must report periodically on the impact of the awards on their personal and professional lives.

The National Defense Industrial Association, Women In Defense, and their sponsors are proud to invest in high-performing women to increase diversity and innovation in government, academia, and the defense industrial workforce.

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must meet all of the following criteria. We will not consider any exceptions.

• Be a woman currently enrolled or expected to be enrolled in an accredited university or college by the fall of 2023 academic term.
• Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible; undergraduates must have attained at least junior level status by the fall of 2023 semester.
• Demonstrate interest in pursuing a career related to national security or defense.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.25.
• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Recipients of past awards may apply. Employees of NDIA and its affiliates, and their families, are ineligible for this scholarship program.

Application Requirements

Once the online application portal opens, applicants will be asked to provide the following:

1. Proof of United States Citizenship
2. Copy of all college transcripts
3. Two letters of recommendation (one letter must be from a faculty member at your current college/university)
4. A 500-word essay
5. Resume

Awardee Requirements

Awardees must agree to the requirements below. We will not consider any exceptions.

• Allow WID to use their names, areas of study, and educational institution in public affairs releases
• Attend a WID scholar Celebration event June 13-14, 2023, in the National Capital Region. WID will pay travel expenses. Awardees will speak about their academic experiences, network with other awardees, and engage with men and women working in defense and national security.
• Upon notification of selection, awardees must provide a headshot and logo for the school where WID will send the scholarship funding.
• No later than July 1, 2023, provide financial aid office contact and information so WID can disperse the scholarship funding

Fields of Study

Focus of the scholarship is on the following preferred fields of study: security studies, military history, government relations, engineering, computer science, cyber security, physics, mathematics, business (as it relates to national security or defense), law (as it relates to national security or defense), international relations, political science, policy and diplomacy, intelligence and economics. Others will be considered if the applicant can successfully demonstrate relevance to a career in the areas of national security or defense.

Selection Criteria

Awards will be based on academic achievement, participation in defense and national security activities, field of study, work experience, statements of objectives, recommendations, and financial need. Essays will be evaluated using the Essay Rubric. Awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, or religion. Women In Defense reserves the right to revise, suspend or discontinue this program without notice.