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For High School Seniors and Current College Students

The following AAFSW scholarships are available, with application deadlines in early April. Application forms are available early in the application year and will be announced in our Global Link newsletter, and on our website and Facebook page.

AAFSW High School/Gap Year Merit Scholarship

This $2,000 scholarship recognizes an outstanding high school senior or gap year student.

Eligibility: High school seniors or gap year students entering college in the fall, whose families are part of the foreign affairs agency community. An immediate family member must be a current member of AAFSW at the time of application. Click here for AAFSW membership information.

Requirements for submission:

Completed application form.

Original essay, 500 words or less (see current application for topic).

High school transcripts. Official transcripts must be sent from the school(s).

Grade point average and SAT or ACT scores (copy or printout of official score sheet, if not included on transcript). Screen shots or a copy of ACT/SAT scores is permitted.

Two letters of recommendation from individuals with knowledge of your achievements in extracurricular activities such as volunteering, paid employment, sports, art, music, etc.

 

AAFSW College Merit Scholarship

This $2,000 scholarship honors an outstanding student currently enrolled in college.

Eligibility: Open to all current college students whose families are part of the foreign affairs community.

An immediate family member must be a current member of AAFSW at the time of application. Click here for AAFSW membership information.

Requirements for submission:

Completed application form.

Original essay, 500 words or fewer.

Transcript of college courses you have taken so far, and a list of your current courses. If you have completed one year of college or less, please include a high school transcript as well (a copy is acceptable).

Two letters of recommendation from individuals with knowledge of your abilities in two of these areas: volunteering, paid employment, sports, art, music, etc.

The Judy Felt Memorial Volunteerism Scholarship

This scholarship, created in honor of the late Art & BookFair Chair Judy Felt, recognizes a student with an exceptional record of community service. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to one of the Merit Scholarship applicants (high school senior, gap year student or college student).

AAFSW Best Essay Award

This $500 award honors an exceptional essay submitted by an applicant for the Merit Scholarships above.

Contact office@aafsw.org for more information or for application forms.

Learn more.

 

 

Through advocacy within the State Department and Congress, we established the Global Community Liaison Office, supported the establishment of the Overseas Briefing Center (now known as the The Transition Center), Around the World in a Lifetime (AWAL), and the Foreign Service Youth Foundation, among other organizations.

In the Department of State staff a housing referral office, operate a bookstore, and host periodic speakers at programs in the diplomatic reception rooms of the State Department. AAFSW was the original source of many of the publications now commonly updated and in the tool kits of mobile families.With our unique ability to lobby Congress on behalf of family members, we succeeded in gaining groundbreaking pension sharing provisions for divorcing spouses along with other benefits.

AAFSW also supports outreach and charities. Money is provided for scholarships for Foreign Service youth, loans for adult family members continuing their education, awards for outstanding volunteer contributions abroad, and we support local Washington, D.C. non-profit organizations that focus on the improvement of family issues. For a more detailed look at the history of AAFSW please see the President’s remarks on A Century of Women in the Foreign Service.

OUR RESUME

Established the Global Community Liaison Office, which guaranteed the Global Community Liaison Office permanent legitimacy through the Foreign Service Act of 1980

Opened the Overseas Briefing Center.

Created the AAFSW Housing Desk,  AAFSW Bookroom, and the Foreign Service Youth Foundation

AAFSW/Secretary of State Awards for Outstanding Volunteerism

First Bilateral Work Agreement

Revolving Adult Education Loan Fund

Foreign Service Associates proposal accepted by Congress

Divorced spouses legislation

Congressional testimony on the importance of Foreign Service family concerns

Numerous publications and symposia

Join us.

again offer books and treasures from all over the world. Our donors from the Foreign Service community have lived everywhere, and customers come to this sale knowing that they can find truly unique international items. This sale has raised $55,000 to $100,000 annually. Over the years that has added up to more than a million dollars.

AAFSW uses Art & BookFair funds to finance scholarships and many other activities in support of the Foreign Service community, from our website to informational programs and events of all types. Some of the proceeds, as well as in-kind donations, are given to DC-area community organizations.

Just as the family members of the Foreign Service depend on AAFSW to advocate for their interests, AAFSW itself depends on the income from the Art & BookFair to function. And we depend on our members to help make this event a success!

How can you help?

Donate items from your home, especially objects acquired overseas. We take art, textiles, jewelry, pottery, wooden carved creations, paintings, stamps, paper money, coins — anything from the countries that you have visited or posts in which you have lived. Small items can be sent in the mail, but we also pick up donations in the Washington, DC area.

Remind your friends and co-workers to do the same, especially those who are retiring, downsizing or moving.

Pick-ups (for donated items other than books) can be arranged by calling the BookRoom, 202-223- 5796, or by emailing bookroom@aafsw.org. Depending on the volume of donations we receive, we may decline to accept books after after August 31.

Volunteer your time during the year. If you have expertise in local art from a particular region of the world, such as South America, or knowledge of languages, we could really use help in pricing books and artifacts. You can get into the Department of State (DOS) with your diplomatic passport. Even if you are only here for a short time, we can use your help.

Volunteer for the Art & BookFair (A&BF), October 7-17! Email office@aafsw.org or call the AAFSW office (703-820- 5420) to volunteer or  download our volunteer form here .

The volunteers have a lot of fun! Art & BookFair is a unique experience, with its interesting books and artifacts, enthusiastic customers, and the old friends and colleagues that we run into from a former post!

AAFSW Art & BookFair Committee
bookfair@aafsw.org

BookRoom, which sells used books of all kinds, is located in “Foggy Bottom Mall” in the basement of the State Department’s HST Building. It’s open November through September (closed during AAFSW’s Art & BookFair each October) during weekday lunchtime hours: 12 noon to 2:30 p.m.

Drop in to get some bargain reading material, and support AAFSW at the same time!

Mention a diplomatic career and most people imagine high-level meetings, formal dress and cocktail parties. Few stop to think that behind the occasional glitter of official functions are thousands of families facing all the routines and crises of life, far from home, relatives, and friends, in unfamiliar and sometimes unfriendly countries. The Realities series (Volumes 1 and 2) provides reflections and perspectives on the realities of Foreign Service life as experienced by members of the Foreign Service community around the world. The writers share their unvarnished views on a wide variety of topics they care about:

Maintaining long-distance relationships
Raising teens abroad
Schooling and housing abroad
Dealing with depression
Employment for accompanying partners
Coping with medical and other types of evacuations
Unaccompanied assignments
Readjusting to life in the United States

These are stories from the diplomatic trenches: experiences from those who have experienced the lifestyle and want to share their hard-learned lessons with others.

If you are new to the Foreign Service, this book will offer insights and practical information useful in your overseas tours and when you return home.

If you are a seasoned veteran of the Foreign Service, the reports and reflections of others may encourage you to compare and evaluate your own experiences.

If you (or your partner) are contemplating joining the Foreign Service, this book can serve as a reality check,
giving you honest, personal perspectives on both the positive and negative aspects of Foreign Service life.

If you are a student wondering what the Foreign Service is all about, this book will broaden your knowledge and provide you with an insider’s view not found in any textbook.

Learn more.

Email us at office@aafsw.org to get more information.