Nov 22, 2005 - Claremont, Calif. -

by Whitney Buchanan '07

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers both undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to students in disciplines ranging through the technical fields into psychology and other social sciences. The program is designed to promote work in fields relevant to the mandate of DHS.

In 2004 they awarded 44 scholarships nationwide in the technical fields out of 340 applicants. Applicants apply at the end of their sophomore year, and must meet a minimum GPA requirement and provide information regarding their research interests, which must be again relevant to DHS concerns.

Rosalind Beckwith '07, Travis McQueen '06, and Jim Castelaz '06 are all Department of Homeland Security scholars. The scholarship pays full tuition for the junior and senior years at a four-year undergraduate institution and pays scholars a stipend during the school year. It also requires a 10-week paid internship working on a DHS funded project, often taking place at a national lab. The scholarship does not require DHS related employment after graduation.

The three attended the annual orientation in Washington, D.C., in mid-October, where they met with DHS administrators, learned about the mission statement and objectives of DHS, and the ways in which technology can be applied to accomplish these objectives. The orientation also provided an opportunity for the scholars to meet with administrators for national labs and other companies about possible internship opportunities as well as to network with other scholars from around the country.

Jim is a senior engineering major, Rosalind is a junior engineer, and Travis is a senior physics major. Jim and Travis both completed their internships last summer at national labs.