ISSAEF Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by ISSA Education Foundation

Attention current and aspiring cybersecurity professionals: the ISSA Education Foundation (ISSAEF) and participating ISSA chapters are offering scholarships and grants to support academic and professional development in information security. Review the opportunities below, sign up for an invitation to apply, and begin gathering transcripts and references now—applications open each spring.

Application timelines
- ISSAEF & Chapter Scholarships: February 1 – June 15, 2026
- SANS E. Eugene Schultz, Jr. Memorial Training Scholarship and CSA Professional Development Grant: February 1 – April 30, 2026

Available awards
- ISSAEF Scholarships
- $3,500 E. Eugene Schultz, Jr. Memorial Scholarship (graduate study)
- $3,500 Howard A. Schmidt Memorial Scholarship (undergraduate study)
- $2,000 Shon Harris WIS (Women in Security) Memorial Scholarship (undergraduate or graduate)
- $2,000 General Scholarship sponsored by Docent Institute (undergraduate or graduate)
- ISSA Alamo Chapter Scholarships
- $2,000 George Chip Meadows Memorial Scholarship (students attending a 4-year San Antonio college or university)
- Two $1,500 scholarships (4-year San Antonio colleges/universities)
- Alamo Women’s Scholarship (to increase female participation in cybersecurity/information security)
- Alamo Minority Scholarship (to increase representation of underrepresented groups; defined as people of color who do not self-identify as White or Caucasian)
- $1,000 scholarship for students at Alamo Colleges District (2-year programs across five San Antonio-area colleges)
- SANS E. Eugene Schultz, Jr. Memorial Training Scholarship (training award)
- CSA Professional Development Grant (training/professional development support)

Who may apply (overview)
Applicants must be actively pursuing a career in cybersecurity and be enrolled full time in an information-security-related undergraduate or graduate program (or in programs specified by a particular chapter scholarship). Applicants must meet the eligibility standards set by the ISSAEF Scholarship Committee and, where applicable, additional chapter-specific requirements.

General award conditions
- Recipients need not be ISSA members.
- Students must be classified as a sophomore, junior, senior, or be enrolled in a graduate program during the semester/quarter when the award is received (Fall term).
- The recipient’s institution must be accredited and authorized to grant degrees at or above the baccalaureate level unless a Chapter scholarship specifies otherwise.
- Scholarship funds are paid by check made payable to the educational institution the recipient will attend.
- Final award decisions are made by the ISSAEF Scholarship Committee after review of submitted materials.

Eligibility criteria (detailed)
To be considered, applicants should demonstrate:
- Academic achievement: Undergraduate applicants should have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (4.0 scale); graduate applicants should have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Include an unofficial transcript from your current or most recent institution.
- Relevant experience: Security-related work experience and/or completion of coursework in security topics.
- Community involvement: Volunteer work in cybersecurity, IT, or related fields.
- Extracurricular engagement: Participation in activities tied to information security—examples include volunteering, conference attendance, presentations, publications, or competition participation.
- Personal statement: A concise narrative describing your background, academic program, cybersecurity interests, and career goals.
- Professional engagement: List memberships in cybersecurity/IT organizations, relevant certifications, and student clubs or organizations.
- Chapter-specific requirement: For chapter scholarships, applicants must attend an institution designated by that chapter.

Letters of recommendation
- Provide at least one letter of recommendation; two are preferred.
- Recommenders should be faculty, cybersecurity professionals, or other individuals familiar with your academic performance, cybersecurity experience, or career goals.
- Each letter should include the recommender’s name, title, organization, contact information, the applicant’s name, the recommender’s relationship to the applicant, and observations about characteristics, abilities, knowledge of the applicant’s cybersecurity interests/goals, and potential for success in the field.

Recipient responsibilities
- Awardees must be planning to pursue a career in cybersecurity.
- Recipients are encouraged (but not required) to consider writing an article for the ISSA Journal; the Foundation can provide assistance if desired.

ISSA Alamo Chapter — additional details and eligible institutions
The Alamo Chapter awards are intended for students pursuing computer science or related degrees with a focus on information security or privacy and must meet both ISSAEF and Alamo Chapter eligibility rules. Final selections are made by the ISSAEF Scholarship Committee.

Some eligible San Antonio-area institutions include:
- Northeast Lakeview College
- Northwest Vista College
- Palo Alto College
- St. Philip’s College
- San Antonio College
- Hallmark University
- University of the Incarnate Word
- Trinity University
- University of Texas at San Antonio

(Enrollment at an accredited institution authorized to confer degrees at or above baccalaureate level is required unless a Chapter scholarship specifies otherwise.)

How awards are distributed
Checks for approved scholarship recipients will be issued to the recipient’s educational institution. The ISSAEF Scholarship Committee reviews all applications and supporting documents to determine awardees.

Next steps
- Sign up to receive an invitation to apply when the application period opens.
- Begin collecting unofficial transcripts and letters of recommendation now.
- Prepare a concise personal statement outlining your academic and career objectives in information security.

For application instructions and submission details, refer to the ISSAEF application portal or contact the ISSA chapter associated with your scholarship of interest.