Awards and Scholarships

Nominations for the following awards must be submitted by April 1st, 2008

National Accreditation Award: Learning for Life provides National Accreditation to schools and organizations that meet certain requirements. Just fill out the application and turn it in to your Learning for Life representative. The award can be given to elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, special needs groups and Explorers.

Congressional Award: To win this award, an adult advisor must help an Explorer set challenging, yet achievable, goals in the four program areas. Once the goals have been achieved, the Explorer summarizes them on a Recommendation Form. A letter will be mailed to let the Explorer know when a Senator and/or member of Congress will present the Explorer with a medal and certificate.

Career Achievement Awards: This program allows young people to be recognized for community service and career proficiency in one or all of the 12 career clusters. In addition, the award gives Explorers distinguished credentials on a resume.

Leadership Award: The Leadership Award is given to youth and adults who have given exceptional dedication and leadership to the youth participants in either the Learning for Life or Exploring Programs.

William H. Spurgeon Award: This award is the highest recognition for individuals and organizations making an outstanding contribution to Exploring at the local, state or national level.

Russell C. Hill Award: This award is the highest recognition for individuals and organizations making an outstanding contribution to character education at the local, state or national level.

Vivian C. Harris Award: The Vivian Harris Award is the highest recognition for individuals and organizations making an outstanding contribution to special education at the local, state, or national level.

Aviation Exploring Scholarships

National Aviation Explorer Scholarships (5/$3,000 to $10,000)
The National Aviation Exploring Committee awards individual scholarships between $3,000 and $10,000 annually to aviation Explorers pursuing a career in the aviation industry. The intent of these scholarships is to identify and reward those individuals who best exemplify the qualities that lead to success in the aviation industry. Type of aviation Explorer scholarships: degree leading to an aviation profession, avionics repair program, recreational or pilot certificate, maintenance aircraft repair program, and aviation management program to include design, engineering, airport management, etc.

Spartan School of Aeronautics (Academic Scholarship Gift-in-Kind Valued at 4/$2,000)
Spartan School of Aeronautics offers four annual scholarships to encourage Aviation Explorers to enter and complete an aviation curriculum that will lead to an exciting, well-paying career in aviation as a professional pilot, aviation maintenance technician, avionics technician, or instrument technician.

Fire Service Exploring Scholarship

IAFCF Scholarship (Fire Service, $500)
The International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation coordinates a yearly $500 scholarship program to assist Explorers in pursuing a career in the fire sciences.

Law Enforcement Exploring Scholarships

National Youth Representative Scholarship
Law Enforcement Exploring will provide a scholarship to the outgoing National Youth Representative at the National Law Enforcement Conference.

ATFAR Scholarship (Law Enforcement, $1,000)
The retiree's association of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) offers scholarships in the amount of $1,000. Scholarships are presented every year to Law Enforcement Explorers

Capt. James J. Regan Scholarship (Law Enforcement, $1,000)
The National Technical Investigators Association presents two one-time $500 scholarships annually. Criteria include academic record, leadership, extracurricular activities, and a personal statement.

DEA Drug Abuse Prevention Service Award (Law Enforcement, $1,000)
The DEA Drug Abuse Prevention Service Award consists of an engraved plaque and a $1,000 award, which will be presented in recognition of "an act or actions representing a contribution of outstanding service in drug abuse prevention." For more information, see the workbook (PDF - 3.7MB) for this award.

Federal Criminal Investigators' Service Award (Law Enforcement, $500)
Federal Criminal Investigators Association recognizes Explorers who render outstanding service to law enforcement agencies with a $500 U.S. Savings bond and plaque.

Sheryl A. Horak Memorial Scholarship (Law Enforcement, $1,000)
This merit-based award involves a $1,000, one-time scholarship. The award also includes a plaque and pin.

Law Enforcement Exploring Community Crime Prevention Award
The International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners provides an annual recognition of Explorer posts that exhibit outstanding support of their communities. Includes a plaque and pin.

Law Enforcement Exploring Proficiency Awards
Provides an opportunity for posts and their Explorers to earn recognition in community service, crime prevention, law enforcement service, law enforcement training, firearms training, emergency preparedness, tenure and Explorer of the Year.

Skilled Trades Exploring

AFL-CIO Skill Trades Scholarship (Skill Trades, 2/$1,000)
The AFL-CIO presents two $1,000 scholarships annually to Explorers to help them support their education toward a career in skilled trades.

Other Resources:

The United States Department of Education's Website provides a wealth of information about grants, loans, and other forms of support available from the United States government.