Scholarships
Investing in the people who come next.
Chapter scholarships support the next generation of the national security workforce, raised from the Space Coast community the chapter serves.
Current cycle status
Where the chapter's money goes to work.
The chapter's events and partnerships do two jobs at once: they run the forum, and they fund what the forum gives back. Scholarships are a core part of that return, directed at students building toward careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the national security fields the Space Coast runs on.
No application window is currently open. The chapter's published scholarship documents do not publish a 2026 or 2027 application window. The two most recent published cycles are listed below and are closed. When a new cycle opens, its window, amounts, and instructions will be posted on this page. Questions go to the chapter through the Scholarships lane on the contact page.
How the program works.
General program rules
From the chapter's published scholarship program. Individual awards may add eligibility rules, application procedures, and deadlines, and every application package must include the chapter application plus the individual award requirements.
- The chapter plans post-secondary scholarships of up to $500 in the coming year, subject to available funds.
- The student must be enrolled for the upcoming academic term in a course of study at an accredited college, university, or other post-secondary training institution.
- The course of study must lead to a degree or certification in a STEM discipline that prepares the student for a professional career supporting AFCEA focus areas in information technology, electronics, cyber, and intelligence systems.
- Qualifying fields named in the program include electrical, computer, chemical, aerospace, and systems engineering; electronics; mathematics; computer science; physics; science or mathematics education; technology management; and management information systems. Majors directly related to United States intelligence enterprises or national security may also qualify.
- The institution must be in Florida and have a set start date. Enrollment in a 100 percent online learning program does not meet the general program requirement.
- Residency rules are set in each award's published instructions. The county lists for the two most recent awards are printed in their blocks below.
How awards are decided and paid
- A Scholarship Selection Committee of current chapter members and industry representatives reviews and votes on submissions.
- If a primary selectee does not confirm eligibility, the award may go to an alternate selectee.
- Funds are paid directly to the winner by a check drawn on the AFCEA Space Coast Chapter Education Fund, after the winner signs a receipt acknowledging educational use only.
- Awards are presented at an AFCEA Space Coast or other community STEM or STEAM event.
Past cycles, as published.
Community Service Scholarship
- Two awards of $500, for a post-secondary degree program or a technical and trade school program.
- Opened July 15, 2025. Deadline was September 26, 2025. This cycle is closed.
- Purpose: help community volunteers pay tuition, books, or expenses for a post-secondary STEM education.
- Focus: aerospace and aviation, information technology and cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.
- Eligibility as printed for this award: resident of Brevard, Flagler, Volusia, Orange, Osceola, or Hillsborough County, and authorized to work in the United States.
- Enrollment condition: accepted or enrolled in an in-person course of study at an accredited college, university, or other post-secondary training institution in Florida with a set start date.
- Applications and at least three letters of recommendation from community organizations where the applicant volunteered were submitted by email in that cycle.
Stellar Visionaries Scholarship
- Two awards of $500, for a post-secondary degree program or a technical and trade school program.
- Opened November 20, 2024. Deadline was February 20, 2025. This cycle is closed.
- Purpose: help creative thinkers pay tuition, books, or expenses for a post-secondary STEM education.
- Focus: majors directly related to United States intelligence enterprises, national security, or space exploration, with relevance to the AFCEA mission.
- Eligibility as printed for this award: resident of Brevard, Flagler, Volusia, Orange, Osceola, or Hillsborough County, and authorized to work in the United States.
- Enrollment condition: accepted or enrolled in an in-person course of study at an accredited college, university, or other post-secondary training institution in Florida with a set start date.
- Submissions in that cycle were a video link (3 to 10 minutes) or an essay (3 to 5 pages), on one of the published topic choices.
Students in the chapter
The pipeline is already in the room.
Student Chapters
AFCEA student chapters connect university students to the defense community before graduation, including the UCF AFCEA Student Chapter.
Honored Monthly
The chapter's Member of the Month series has honored student leaders alongside industry and government members, most recently a Florida Tech aerospace senior in September 2026.
In the Room
Students attend chapter programs alongside the officers, engineers, and executives they will work for, and with, after graduation.
Start with the scholarships lane.
One message through the contact page, with the Scholarships lane selected, reaches the chapter's scholarship route.
Contact the Chapter