AOC Empire Chapter Scholarships
The Empire AOC Chapter provides Scholarship Awards to Central New York students with engineering programs preparing students for potential careers in Electronic Defense and Warfare. We offer and disburse 2-3 each $1,000 scholarships every calendar year.
How is the scholarship program administered?
The AOC Empire Chapter Education Foundation is the governing body for administering all chapter scholarships. It is composed of all the Officers and Board of Directors of the Chapter. The principal point of contact for our scholarship program is the Scholarship Director/Chairperson. The general purpose of our program is to encourage and help the upcoming professional student in engineering and the hard sciences to pursue a career in National Electronic Defense. We do this by sponsoring scholarships within the Central NY area for students who have a permanent residence within the associated Chapter Zip Codes. These awards are direct grants given to students in association with a college/university. The scholarships are awarded annually and are selected by non-AOC College, University, and Industry representatives using the criteria provided by the Foundation. The AOC Empire Chapter Educational Board approves the candidates.
What are the Requirements and Application Process?
The scholarship recipients must be undergraduate students majoring in Aeronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or Mathematics, who demonstrate an interest in National Defense and academic excellence. Recipients must be U.S. citizens, at the junior or senior level and maintain a 2.5 grade point average or better. Recipients can be awarded the scholarships for a maximum of two years until they graduate so long as they meet the criteria. Scholarships are awarded without regard to race, color, creed, sex or national origin.
The following items are required of each applicant:
- Submit latest school transcript.
- Submit an application form.
- Submit a short essay of not more than two typewritten 12-point font, double-spaced pages on their interests with regard to National Defense. Specifically, address how their interest and education objectives will support future contributions to National Defense. Examples include future employment in radar, sonar, infrared, electronic countermeasures, surveillance, guidance, optics, lasers, navigation, information warfare, etc.
- (Optional but highly desirable) The name and membership number of current AOC professional(s) who recommend the applicant.
What criteria are used to select the scholarship winners?
- Student Application Information of a well rounded individual
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Interest and potential future contribution to National Defense.
(Based on the student essay) - Academic Excellence
- Recommendations from AOC members
Note: Information and articles on recent developments in Electronic Defense are available in the magazine Journal of Electronic Defense published monthly by the AOC Electronic Warfare Association in Alexandria VA or online at www.jedonline.com. Another useful source of information is the book History of U.S Electronic Warfare by Alfred Price.
Who selects the scholarship winners?
Students are selected by a committee of university and industry personnel. The selection shall be made by unbiased, independent person(s) not affiliated with the AOC local chapter. The selected student names, degree program, GPA, expected graduation year, essay and nominations (if any) are to be presented to the Chapter Scholarship Director for routine confirmation of the selection process. No financial information is requested.
How are funds distributed?
Two – three each $1,000 scholarships are awarded to the student recipients. The Universities and number of scholarships may change annually at the discretion of the AOC Empire Chapter Board of Directors. Applications are generally due by 1 November. College & University committee selection of the scholarship recipients will be completed by 15 December of each year. Final confirmation occurs after an annual board meeting, in which approval of the students selected is granted. The Board also asks that after confirmation, the students selected attend the local chapter’s annual Scholarship Awards Meeting/Education Night Ceremony, typically held on a Saturday night in mid-February. The Scholarship checks are awarded at the Ceremony. The purpose of this event is to provide an opportunity for the recipients to learn more about the AOC and Electronic Defense itself, informing them of opportunities and challenges in the field by current engineering professionals. The chapter hopes to attract students into the National Defense Industry involving Electronic Countermeasures and Defense, to include Cyber warfare and Information Operations.
