The Washington Center to Serve as Internship Partner for the Federal Cyber Service Program of the National Science Foundation

October, 1 2005 ( Washington , D.C. ) – The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected The Washington Center as an internship partner to provide internship opportunities for scholarship recipients in the NSF Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service Program (SFS).

Offered through a multi-agency partnership between NSF, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and an Interagency Coordinating Committee, the SFS program plays a key role in protecting the federal government’s critical information infrastructure by supporting students being trained in information assurance (IA) who want to serve the federal government. The internship component of the program will help students gain a substantive experience working in the field of cyber security.

Working with higher education institutions nationwide that are designated as Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance by the National Security Agency and the DHS, the National Science Foundation provides grants to these academic institutions to support more than 300 full scholarships. Recipients are chosen through a competitive process administered by the college or university.

All SFS scholars are U.S. citizens and are enrolled full-time in a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree program in an information assurance-related field. In exchange for full tuition, room and board, and stipend support, students agree to work full-time in an IA position at a federal agency for a period equivalent to the length of the scholarship or one year, which ever is longer. In addition, while students are still enrolled in school, they are required to participate in an internship.

Through the new partnership with The Washington Center, SFS Scholars and their academic institutions will have the benefit working with an internship organization that has 30 years of experience working with placement sites in federal agencies in Washington , D.C. , and which provides a comprehensive, structured internship program that includes academic supervision, programming, housing, and student life services. The Washington Center will work with the NSF to provide SFS Scholars practical experience in the field of information assurance in Washington , D.C.

“The National Science Foundation is thrilled to extend the benefits of The Washington Center’s program to SFS Scholars who need help in identifying substantive internship opportunities in information assurance in the public sector," said Diana Gant, director of the National Science Foundation’s Scholarship for Service Program. "These scholars will play a critical role in protecting the security of the federal information system well into the future. The Washington Center ’s program provides an excellent practical training ground for them to prepare for a career in the Federal government.”

“The Washington Center is proud to welcome SFS Scholars to its already diverse population of more than 1500 students annually. The SFS scholars will have the opportunity to interact with students from across the country and from around the world. The SFS Scholars will be able to gain an appreciation for the vital role public service plays in a productive society and recognize the role each individual can and must contribute to the ongoing work of our country,” stated Michael B. Smith, president of The Washington Center.

The first group of students is scheduled to participate in The Washington Center’s summer 2006 program. Students will take part in a ten-week internship program working in the federal government, participate in the prestigious Washington Forum program and network with other leaders in the community.

For more information, contact:

Jennifer Clinton, Ph.D.
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
Telephone: 202-336-7569

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, nonprofit educational organization founded in 1975. Its mission is to prepare college and university students for civic leadership through experiential education. In this way, The Washington Center seeks to promote future leadership for the public, private and nonprofit sectors of society. It has served more than 34,000 students from over 1000 colleges and universities. Visit our website at www.twc.edu.

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