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NAF Scholarship Program
Deadline to apply: March 27, 2025 3:00 pm CT

NAF has established a scholarship program to assist high school seniors or graduates of NAF academies who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs.

The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Applicants to the NAF Scholarship Program must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be high school seniors or graduates of one of the academies within the NAF Network
  • Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year
  • Plan to pursue a degree in one of the following fields: Business, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM*), Environmental Science, or Agriculture
    *Including medical-related fields

Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award ranging from $1,500 to $2,500. Up to 7 awards will be granted.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Amex Jesse Blackman AOHT Award – up to 1 award of $1,500

  • Must be high school senior or graduate from a NAF Academy or Hospitality and Tourism program
  • Must be intending to continue study in the Hospitality and Tourism Field

NAF Alumni Business – up to 5 awards of $1,500 each

  • Must be a high school senior or graduate from NAF Academy (AOHT, AOF, AOIT or AOE), and be pursuing further education in Business and/or Finance
  • Assuming there are qualified applicants, preference may be given to applicants who have been active in academy-related activities

Patti Smith Sustainability award – up to 1 award of $2,500

  • Must be a high school senior or graduate from a NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism program
  • Must be intending to continue study in Agriculture or Environmental Science

Notification

All applicants will be notified in May.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of NAF. Payment is made in August.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • An online recommendation

Financial need is not considered. Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of NAF play a part in the selection. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Awards are one-time only. Past recipients may not reapply. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

As part of your application, you must upload the following:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
    • Student name
    • School name
    • Grades
    • Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.

One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than April 2, 2025 3:00 pm Central Time.

Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.

NAF has partnered with Scholarship America. Selecting the button below will redirect you to the Scholarship America Student Hub!

Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address provided below in the footer as safe senders in your email contact list.