Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship

The Shrader Graduate Scholarship awards $3,000 to full-time graduate students who are enrolled in at least their second semester and taking two or more semester-equivalent courses at an accredited U.S. academic institution. Applicants must live in the United States and pursue an eligible STEM major that supports the mission of the AFCEA Educational Foundation.

Created to support students who need financial assistance to continue their education, this scholarship helps advance graduate study in the fields listed below.

Note: The applicant's expected graduation date must not fall within the same calendar year the scholarship is awarded.

Scholarship funds may be used only for tuition and course-related expenses, including required fees, books, supplies, and equipment.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all the following criteria:

Note: Failure to meet any of the requirements below may affect scholarship eligibility.

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
• Must be a graduate-level student.
• Must be enrolled in at least the second semester or a graduate program.
• Must be taking two or more semester-equivalent courses at an accredited U.S. college or university at the time of application.
• Must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5.
• Applicants must demonstrate a financial need.
• AFCEA focuses on STEM and hard science fields that support the defense, homeland security, and intelligence communities, including information technology, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and electronics.
• Qualifying majors include:
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Astronomy
  • Biometry/Biometrics
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Forensics Science
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Systems
  • Cybersecurity
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electronics Engineering
  • Geospatial Science
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Information Science
  • Information Technology
  • Information Resource Management
  • Intelligence
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Network Engineering
  • Network Security
  • Operations Research
  • Physics
  • Robotics Engineering
  • Robotics Technology
  • Statistics
  • Strategic Intelligence
  • Telecommunications Engineering

Application Process

Applications must include the following materials:

• A completed application form
• Current official graduate transcript issued by the Registrar's Office
• Undergraduate transcript (official or unofficial accepted)
  • If coursework in progress is not listed, applicants must submit registration documentation showing current enrollment
  • Transcripts must be submitted electronically through the applicant's school to edfoundation@afcea.org
  • If electronic submission is not possible, official documents must be mailed to the address below no later than May 1, 2026. Applications must be complete and include all required supporting documentation.
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members in your major field of study
  • Recommenders must send their letters in pdf format via email to edfoundation@afcea.org
  • Applicants are responsible for coordinating submission with their recommender
• Current résumé