Scholarships & Awards
JSHS recognizes outstanding research presented by high school students at Regional and National Symposia. The U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force jointly sponsor undergraduate tuition scholarships and cash awards for student finalists who are citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) of the United States, at the Regional and National Symposia.
Teachers are also recognized for their exceptional contributions to promoting student research. Many university sponsors who host Regional Competitions present scholarships, cash awards, and other prizes. The availability of these additional awards, type of award, and value vary by region.
The following undergraduate tuition scholarship and cash awards are supported by the Department of Defense sponsors. All scholarships are payable upon matriculation to college and upon meeting the JSHS scholarship conditions.
Regional Finalists' Awards
A total of $4,500 in undergraduate tuition scholarships is disbursed by each region.
- 1st Place receives $2,000
- 2nd Place receives $1,500
- 3rd Place receives $1,000
National Competition Awards
In addition to scholarships, the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force invite the top five finalists from each Regional Symposium to the National JSHS Symposium to present their original research; expenses paid.
- The 1st and 2nd place regional finalists will present their research in the oral competition to compete for National JSHS scholarships.
- The 3rd, 4th and 5th place regional finalists will present their research in the poster competition to compete for cash awards.
National Finalists' Awards
A total of $192,000 in undergraduate tuition scholarships is presented to the top three finalists in the National Symposium research paper oral competition in each subject category.
- Each of the 1st Place finalists receives $12,000
- Each of the 2nd Place finalists receives $8,000
- Each of the 3rd Place finalists receives $4,000
Cash awards will be presented to the top three finalists in the National Symposium research poster competition in each subject category.
Scholarship Eligibility and Rules
The U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force support the outstanding achievements of students in STEM research through undergraduate tuition scholarships. JSHS Regional and National student researchers qualify for JSHS scholarships as a result of STEM research paper competitions hosted at regional and national levels.
Qualifying students must be a citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States and be enrolled full-time in an accredited institution. Scholarship funds may be used to cover tuition and tuition-related materials, such as, but not limited to, summer tuition, books, supplies, laboratory fees, and related materials. Scholarship funds are not authorized for the purchase of personal computers or software. All scholarship payments are made directly to the student’s college of enrollment.
JSHS scholarship recipients who attend service academies receive full tuition through the U.S. Government. Therefore, the JSHS scholarship is not available to support tuition costs. Other legitimate expenses (listed above) may be supported through the JSHS scholarship. Students who attend service academies should submit a written request to the JSHS National Office at the National Science Teaching Association that details these legitimate expenses.
Claim a JSHS Scholarship Award
To claim a JSHS Regional or National Scholarship award, students must complete a JSHS Scholarship Award Form and submit it to the JSHS Scholarship Program at the National Office, the National Science Teaching Association. If you have won a Regional or National Scholarship and need a scholarship form, please contact the National JSHS Office.
Even if the award recipient is not enrolling in college in the year in which the award is won, the student must still complete and submit an award form with all applicable information to establish a scholarship account. The scholarship award will be held for a maximum of four years from the time of the award.
For National Scholarship award recipients whose awards are disbursed over multiple years, a year-end transcript must be provided after each year of college to show a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. Also, when a major of study is declared, the student must provide college or university documentation that clearly states the student’s intended major.
Scholarship Payment Schedules
JSHS scholarship awards are undergraduate tuition scholarships that are paid upon the award recipient’s matriculation to college.
- Regional Scholarship Awards
- The Regional Scholarship Awards presented to the top three finalists at each Regional Symposium are paid in full on or before August 1, beginning in the students’ first year of college enrollment.
- Payments must be made directly to the college and may not be paid to the students.
- National Scholarship Awards
- The National Scholarship Awards are presented to the top three finalists of the oral presentations in each of the subject categories of competition.
- Scholarships are paid in four equal installments over four years of the student’s college career. Each installment will be paid on or before August 1, beginning in the student’s first year of college enrollment.
- Payments must be made directly to the college and may not be paid to the student.
- Multiple Scholarship Awards
- For students who receive JSHS Regional and National awards in the same year or in multiple years, scholarship payments will be added and disbursed following the above payment schedule.
- The total of all Regional scholarships will be paid in full beginning in the student’s first year of college enrollment.
- The total of all National scholarships will be paid out in four equal installments over four years.