American Foreign Service Association Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by American Foreign Service Association

Over its roughly 250-year existence, the United States has combined coercive measures and attraction-based influence to lead abroad. Central to that blend of tools is the U.S. Foreign Service — the country’s professional diplomatic corps — which implements American foreign policy and promotes U.S. interests overseas. From crisis management and treaty negotiations to cultivating long-term partnerships, the Foreign Service is the primary instrument of American diplomacy. Soft power refers to the ability to shape others’ preferences through appeal and attraction rather than force. It includes cultural exports (music, film, literature), educational and professional exchange programs, independent fact-based journalism, and development and humanitarian assistance. These elements help the United States create trust and durable relationships across the globe. In 2025, many of those instruments were dramatically reduced or eliminated: the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was disbanded; the U.S. Agency for Global Media (which houses Voice of America) was effectively shuttered; the majority of exchange initiatives, including the Fulbright program, were put on hold; and the Foreign Service saw staffing reduced by roughly 25 percent. Those changes pose a central question: how can the United States sustain and build international relationships without these capabilities? Assignment (1,000–1,500 words) Choose one of two positions and make a well-reasoned case: - Argue that the United States can continue to exercise global leadership despite the loss of these tools — and explain how. OR - Argue that it cannot maintain leadership without them — and explain why. Whichever side you take, direct special attention to the U.S. Foreign Service operating with fewer personnel and diminished supporting instruments. If you contend leadership can be preserved, propose concrete, realistic measures diplomats could adopt to meet U.S. objectives. If you contend it cannot, identify where capacity would be lacking, what risks would increase, and what tangible costs would follow. Eligibility Requirements: Financial Aid Scholarships To qualify for an AFSA undergraduate Financial Aid Scholarship, applicants must meet all of the following criteria: - Be a current high school senior or a college freshman, sophomore, or junior, and be enrolled (or, for high school seniors, planning to enroll) as a full-time undergraduate student at a college or university. - Be a dependent child of a Foreign Service employee who is an American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) member. The AFSA member must be or have been employed (including active duty, retired, deceased, or separated) by a foreign affairs agency as defined in the Foreign Service Act of 1980 — specifically: the Department of State, USAID, USAGM, FCS, FAS, or APHIS. - Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. - Demonstrate financial need.