Letter from the President March 2021

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT: AAFSW IS ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AND AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR SOSA AND CCE-EFM!

Springtime for AAFSW is about supporting our community. Two of AAFSW’s community pillars include our scholarships and awards. AAFSW has been providing scholarships to our members since 2013. What makes our scholarships stand out you ask?  Firstly – AAFSW Merit scholarships are set aside for college students. Many scholarships focus on high school seniors or gap year students. AAFSW realized college students still need financial assistance, so we set our sights on supporting this group of students. Secondly, in 2018, AAFSW established the Twice Exceptional Merit Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to reward Academic Excellence for high school seniors and/or college students who have shown resilience and have academically overcome adversity due to special needs.  To learn more about these scholarships and how to apply, visit https://www.aafsw.org/2021-scholarships/. The DEADLINE IS APRIL 15, 2021.

AAFSW is now accepting nominations for the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad, better known as SOSA, as well as the Champions for Career Enhancement for EFMs (CCE-EFM). The SOSA award was established in 1990 by then Secretary of State James Baker and his wife Susan Baker. AAFSW has proudly administered the award since then. Many members of our Foreign Affairs community are doing noteworthy and newsworthy volunteer activities overseas. AAFSW is excited to honor the next batch of recipients in November 2021.  

Established in 2014, the CCE-EFM award is meant to honor and encourage those employees and EFMs who go above and beyond specifically in the advancement of EFM careers and employment. 

AAFSW is always willing to lend a helping hand to our community partners and support their initiatives.  DACOR is now accepting nominations for the Eleanor Dodson Tragen AwardThis award recognizes a family member who has effectively advocated for family member rights and benefits, as did the late Eleanor Tragen, a long-time AAFSW member.   

To learn more about these awards, check out the article by Patricia Linderman, AAFSW SOSA chair, in the GL, or read ALDAC cable 21 STATE 9340 issued February 3, 2021.