WIFLE SCHOLARSHIPS

help students seeking a career in law enforcement with college tuition.

Check back in February 2025 for Application Forms and Instructions.

• WIFLE 2024 Scholarship Recipients

THE WIFLE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Purpose:

The Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) Scholarship Program is run through the WIFLE Foundation, Inc. to offer scholarships to talented individuals to meet demands in the field of law enforcement and to foster the professional development of those engaged in law enforcement.  WIFLE's mission is gender equity and helping to increase the number of women in federal law enforcement. The dollar amount of each scholarship will vary based on numerous factors.  

Eligibility

WIFLE scholarships are awarded based on a student’s academic potential, achievement, and commitment to serving communities in the field of law enforcement.  The scholarship is open to all eligible persons.  To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must:

• Physically attend and be a full-time student at an accredited four-year college or university; or be currently enrolled in a full-time in a fully accredited community college with the intention of transferring to a four-year degree;
• Have completed at least one full academic year of college work at an accredited college or university or community college;
• Major in Criminal Justice or a related discipline, such as social sciences, public administration, computer science, finance, linguistic arts, chemistry, physics, etc., leading to a four-year degree (Students in graduate and postgraduate programs are also eligible; students pursuing Associate degrees are not eligible, unless as stated above, fully articulate in the application their intention to transfer to a four-year program.);
• Have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point  (GPA) average;
• Demonstrate a commitment to the community through a 500-word essay describing their involvement in a community project, and the results or impact of that involvement to the community; OR, if the applicant if currently serving or has served an internship with a law enforcement agency, preferably a federal law enforcement agency, the applicant must provide details including the name if the agency, the dates served and describe the value of the experience and the accomplishment through the internship in a 500-word essay;
• Have at least one community leader or member of a community or police official sponsor their application with a written statement of support;
• Submit a completed application with the required information, 500-word essay, transcripts, and a recommendation letter from a community leader or police official;
• Be a citizen of the United States.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS

Opens for applications February 1 each year.  Information and applications are available above and must be received by the Scholarship Coordinator no later than May 1st of each year.  Extensions will not be granted.  Applications that are incomplete or received after the deadline will not be considered.

Letters of recommendation should be mailed with the application, if possible, but must be received by the deadline, along with the required application, 500 word essay, and college transcripts.  Recipients will be notified by May 20th each year, and awards will be mailed directly to the educational institutions. Mail all applications to the attention of the Scholarship Coordinator at:

WIFLE
Attention: Scholarship Coordinator
2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 102 PMB 204
Arlington, VA 22201

MEMBERS-ONLY OR MEMBER-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Purpose: As a benefit to its members, WIFLE offers one scholarship in the amount of $3,000 to a member or member-sponsored applicant.

In 2008, the WIFLE Foundation established a “Members-Only” scholarship open to regular and associate members of Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. The yearly scholarship is for $3,000 and is selected from the total number of member and member-sponsored applications received yearly. This scholarship was created to encourage WIFLE members to become mentors and reach out to students considering a career in federal law enforcement or students currently pursuing a degree in a related field. This scholarship also encourages scholarship applications from our present student members working full-time law enforcement jobs and pursuing a graduate degree at an accredited online university, which also incorporates a two-week residency program.

Current WIFLE Members may sponsor either themselves or one individual for this scholarship using the Members-Only Scholarship Application who meet the criteria below.

An applicant must also meet the following eligibility criteria as it pertains to their status:

·         physically attends and is a full-time student at an accredited four-year college or university; or is currently enrolled full time in a fully accredited community college with the intention of transferring to a four-year degree program; if pursuing a graduate degree, applicant must carry at least six (6) semester hours; OR, WIFLE members working full time law enforcement jobs pursuing a post graduate degree at an accredited on-line university that incorporates a two-week residency program.

·         has completed at least one full academic year of college work at an accredited college, university or community college;

·         maintains a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average (GPA);

·         Major in Criminal Justice or a related discipline, such as social sciences, public administration, computer science, finance, linguistic arts, chemistry, physics, etc., leading to a four-year degree (Students in graduate and postgraduate programs are also eligible; students pursuing Associate degrees are not eligible, unless as stated above, fully articulate in the application their intention to transfer to a four-year program.)

·         WIFLE members sponsoring their own application and are enrolled in either a graduate program physically attending during off-duty hours or an accredited online university program with a two week residency program must describe the relevancy of their degree to law enforcement.

·         submits a letter demonstrating their financial need and includes a statement of career objectives;

·         provides at least one letter of recommendation from a local community member and/or leader or law enforcement professional;

·         be a citizen of the United States.

Note: Members-only sponsored scholarships are not open to current employees or current officers of the WIFLE Foundation and/or Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. 

MEMBERS-ONLY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS

Information on Members-Only scholarship applications are available above and must be received by the Scholarship Coordinator no later than May 1st each year. Extensions will not be granted.  Applications that are incomplete or received after the deadline will not be considered.

Letters of recommendation should be mailed with the application, if possible, but must be received by the deadline, along with the required application, 500 word essay, and college transcripts.  Recipients will be notified by May 17th each year and awards will be mailed directly to the educational institutions.  Mail all applications to the attention of the Scholarship Coordinator at:

WIFLE
Attention: Scholarship Coordinator
2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 102 PMB 204
Arlington, VA 22201