2026 USSSA Scholarships
APPLICANT CHECKLIST
Scholarship Login/Password
Students will be prompted to create their own login credentials to manage their application via our software program, Smarter Select.
Video Essay
Students submitting applications for the general, 9/11 memorial and Julie Cross scholarships will be required to submit a video essay. For more details see the FAQ below.
Transcript
Please make sure to submit your transcript by either uploading yourself of requesting from your school.
Letter of Recommendation
Please ensure that the Letter of Recommendation is specifically tailored for the USSSA scholarship. The recommender should not be a USSSA member.
Letter of Acceptance
Please make sure to include your letter of acceptance.
DEADLINE: April 10, 2026
Remember, everything must be submitted online by the student by April 10, 2026 at 11:59pm CDT.
FAQ
For more details see the FAQ below
2026 Scholarships Open March 10-April 10
2026 USSSA Scholarship Application Window will be open March 10 to April 10, 2026.
Thanks to the generosity of our members, the USSSA Foundation has funded more than $1,000,000+ in scholarships to eligible members and their families over the past 15 years.
The USSSA Foundation offers four different scholarship funds: the General Foundation Scholarship, the Julie Cross Memorial Scholarship, the Ron Shurer Memorial Scholarship and the USSSA 9/11 Memorial Scholarship. Students are encouraged to apply for any scholarship programs for which they meet the eligibility criteria.
ALL scholarship applications MUST be submitted ONLINE and be completed by the student.
Awardees will be notified at the end of May and checks will be mailed directly to the educational institutions by the end of July.
USSSA Foundation Scholarship
The Trustees of the Foundation of the United States Secret Service Association provides scholarships for USSSA members and their families. Funding for scholarships will be considered within the context of the Foundation's financial resources and the Trustees' fiduciary responsibility to its members in need of assistance.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants are USSSA members, their spouses, children, grandchildren, and stepchildren. The USSSA member must have maintained membership in the association for at least one continuous year immediately prior to the deadline for submission of the applicant package.
Julie Cross Memorial Scholarship
Julie Cross was appointed a United States Secret Service Special Agent in 1979 at the San Diego Field Office. Her next assignment was in the Los Angles Field Office in 1980, when three days in, she died in the line of duty during a confrontation with two armed assailants during a counterfeit surveillance. Julie was the first female Secret Service Special Agent to be killed in the line of duty.
Eligibility Requirements
The Julie Cross Memorial Scholarship is open to women seeking a career in law enforcement or related field (undergrad or grad programs) who are friends or family of USSSA members. Applicants must be referred/sponsored by a USSSA member (does not have to be relation) and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Note: Recipients of past awards are ineligible for any future awards.
USSS Deputy Director Ron Rowe presented Avery Hartenstein, daughter of USSSA member Michael Hartenstein of Stafford, Virginia, with several USSSA scholarships, including the 2023 Julie Cross Memorial Scholarship, USSSA 9/11 Scholarship, and the USSSA Foundation Scholarship. She is now attending William & Mary and looks forward to a future in law enforcement.
Ron Shurer Memorial Scholarship
In honor of a humble man and dedicated colleague, the Trustees of the Foundation of the United States Secret Service Association are pleased to announce the continuation of the Ron Shurer Memorial Scholarship.
In his own words: "I think everyone would benefit from finding some way to serve at some level - whether it's the military, law enforcement or just helping out in their communities. Everyone should be part of something bigger than themselves. I've been fortunate to find that service in the military and now the Secret Service."
Eligibility Requirements
This scholarship has been established in Ron's memory to benefit children of United States Secret Service employees who died while still employed by the USSS.
USSSA Foundation's 9/11 Memorial Scholarship
The Trustees of the Foundation of the United States Secret Service Association are pleased to announce the Secret Service September 11 Scholarship Program.
Eligibility Requirements
This scholarship program was initiated in order to support the children and grandchildren of those 9/11 USSS responders whose life expectancy has been diminished due to their exposure during their service to our nation.
The USSSA Member must have maintained USSSA membership for at least one consecutive year immediately prior to the application deadline.
SCHOLARSHIP FAQ
Scholarship Software Login / Password Help
All scholarship applications must be submitted electronically.
If your student does not already have a Smarter Select account, they should select the "create account option" in order to proceed with the application process.
Students will be prompted to create their own login credentials to manage their application via our software program, Smarter Select.
Returning applicants from last year can utilize the same login information to access the system.
How Do I Upload My Video Essay?
To include your video submission in the application:
- Upload your video to YouTube, Google Drive, or Dropbox
- Videos are required to ensure the settings are configured to allow anyone to view your video
- Confirm your video is only 2-3 minutes in length.
- Copy the video link
- Paste the link in the video essay text box within your application
Written essays will not be considered.
Letter of Recomendation Instructions
Please ensure that the Letter of Recommendation is specifically tailored for the USSSA Scholarship.
The Letter of Recommendation should be addressed to the USSSA Scholarship Committee and must be signed and dated by the recommender. (Note: the letter must be dated within 6 months of applying)
The recommender should not be a USSSA member, unless the student is applying for the Julie Cross Memorial Scholarship.
Recommender can be a teacher, coach, counselor, campus/community leader who can provide insight into the student's qualifications for the scholarship.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
General Scholarship
The Foundation Scholarship is open to USSSA members, their spouses, children, and grandchildren for undergraduate degrees, technical or trade schools at the undergraduate level or engaged in the trade industry. (Note: We will accept applications submitted by the child or grandchild of a member who has passed away.) The USSSA Member must have maintained USSSA membership for at least one consecutive year immediately prior to the application deadline.
Julie Cross Memorial Scholarship
The Julie Cross Memorial Scholarship is open to women seeking a career in law enforcement or related field (undergrad or grad programs) who are friends or family of USSSA members. Applicants must be referred/sponsored by a USSSA member (does not have to be relation) and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Note: Recipients of past awards are ineligible for any future awards.
Ron Shurer Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship has been established in Ron's memory to benefit children of United States Secret Service employees who died while still employed by the USSS.
9/11 Memorial Scholarship
The USSSA Foundation's 9/11 Scholarship is open to the children and grandchildren of those 9/11 USSS responders whose life expectancy has been diminished due to their exposure during their service to our nation. The USSSA Member must have maintained USSSA membership for at least one consecutive year immediately prior to the application deadline.
Can previous award winners apply?
If you have previously been awarded a scholarship, you are eligible to apply for the current scholarship, which opens up opportunities for further academic advancement.
(Note: Previous Julie Cross scholarship winners are not eligible to apply again.)
Application Requirements
USSSA Foundation Scholarship
- Letter of Acceptance (for freshmen or transfer students)
- Most Recent Transcript (Fall/Winter) 3.0 GPA Minimum
- Letter of Recommendation
- Financial/Tuition Information
- Video Submission 2-3 min. max (written essays will not be accepted)
Julie Cross Memorial Scholarship
- Acceptance Letter (for incoming freshmen or transfer students)
- Transcript - 3.0 GPA minimum
- 2 Letters of Recommendation - 1 from a USSSA Member and another from a teacher, coach, counselor, campus or community leader
- Written essay submission
- Video essay submission 2-3 min. max
Ron Shurer Memorial Scholarship
- High School Applicants - Letter of Acceptance
- Other Applicants - Most Recent Transcript as proof of enrollment
- Written essay submission
9/11 Memorial Scholarship
- Proof of parent/grandparent 9/11 response or recovery assignments on USSS standard paperwork
- or certified registration with the 9/11 WTC Health Screen program
- or WTC Victims Compensation Fund
- Letter of Acceptance (for freshmen or transfer students)
- Most Recent Transcript (Fall/Winter) - 3.0 GPA Minimum
- Video essay submission 2-3 min. max (written essays will not be accepted)
Transcript Instructions
Please make sure to submit your MOST RECENT transcript by either uploading yourself of requesting from your school.
Your transcript must show:
- minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on an unweighted 4.0 scale (please ensure this is clearly stated on your transcript)
- the name of the school
- the name of the student
Letter of Acceptance Requirement
A letter of acceptance is required for High School Seniors or Transfer Students.
When will I know if I have been awarded a scholarship?
Electronic notifications will be sent out to all applicants the week ending May 30th regardless of award status.
Printed letters will be mailed the week ending June 5th.
Where will the scholarship check be mailed?
Checks will be sent to the college/university not to the individual student. Please make sure you confirm with your educational institution the exact address where USSSA should send the check including the specific office such as Financial Aid, Bursar, Scholarship, etc..
Please be sure to include ALL mailing details, an example address is listed below:
Penn State University
Office of the Bursar
103 Shields Building
University Park, PA 16802