U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association

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Captain Laurance Safford Scholarship Program

Each year, the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association awards three scholarships to three meritorious students in the amounts of $3000, $2500, and $2000. These scholarships are intended to recognize academic excellence, leadership, community service and a commitment to pursuing higher education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, math, linguistics, and cyber.

  • All applications submitted are considered.
  • The decision of the Scholarship Committee ise final.
  • Scholarship winners will be announced prior to the annual U.S. NCVA Reunion.

About Captain Safford

Laurance Safford, CAPT, USNCaptain Safford established the Naval cryptologic organization after World War I, and headed the effort more or less constantly until shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His identification with the Naval cryptologic effort was so close that he was often referred to as the Friedman of the Navy.

Captain Safford was the first to begin organizing the worldwide Naval collection and direction finding effort, so that when the United States entered World War II it already had a system of intercept stations. The effort he headed broke Japanese naval codes, and began mechanizing its operations with IBM equipment.

SIGABASafford was directly involved with building cryptographic machines. He collaborated with the Army's Frank Rowlett in the invention of the SIGABA, the only cipher machine never broken by any country during World War II.

Laurance Safford was inducted into the NSA Cryptologic Hall of Honor in 1999.


Application Procedures

    1. Complete application must be submitted no later than 30 June of the year you are applying. This date is driven by availability of applicants end of year academic reports such as transcripts and educational institution acceptance letters.
      • Download and complete the Scholarship Application Form.
      • Scan all documents (minimum 300 dpi resolution) as PDFs.
      • Attach and send them by email to the Scholarship Manager. Your submission will be acknowledged via E-mail, and you will be advised if there are any elements missing or illegible.
    2. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
    3. While not required, submission of a head/shoulders photo of the candidate would be appreciated for future publication in CRYPTOLOG in the event the applicant wins a scholarship.

ALL INFORMATION WILL BE HELD CONFIDENTIAL


Eligibility

      1. A U.S. NCVA member in good standing for the application year must sponsor applicants.
        • The application must be submitted via the U.S. NCVA member.
        • Applicants need not be related to the sponsor.
        • A brief Letter of Sponsorship must be included with the application containing the sponsor’s email address or phone number for contact.
          • Make it more than JUST “I’m sponsoring…” Tell us WHY you are sponsoring the candidate and why you think the student is deserving of an NCVA scholarship.
      2. Applicants must be a High School graduate at minimum with an intent to enroll in an institution of higher learning and have a financial need. If you have already been accepted at an institution of higher learning, attach a copy of the acceptance letter.
      3. Applicants who have attended college and those currently enrolled are also eligible. They too must provide a transcript and have a financial need.
      4. Applicants must:
        • Submit a transcript from their school.
        • Plan to enroll in an institution of higher learning.
        • Have a financial need.
        • Attach a copy of their acceptance letter if already accepted at an institution of higher learning.
        • Submit a brief written statement including:
          • Your current and future educational goals.
          • Any special circumstances you wish to be considered.
          • The nature of your financial need.
          • The statement should not exceed one page, single spaced, typewritten.
      5. While not required, a letter of recommendation from a teacher or professor will be considered in the evaluation and is highly recommended.
      6. You may apply in consecutive years, but each year will be evaluated separately with no guarantee the scholarship will be renewed.
      7. Please ensure your contact information remains valid through 15 August of the year you are applying.

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