Susan M. Hunter Scholarship FAQ - 2026
1. Who is eligible to apply for the scholarship?
Children of a current, retired, or deceased full-time employee of a corrections agency that is a member of CLA. Children of vendors or parents contracted to work within corrections are not eligible.
2. Can a child of a state and/or federal employee apply?
Yes, children of current, retired, or deceased employees of state and federal correctional agencies who are members of CLA are accepted. This includes FBOP.
3. Can a stepchild of a DOC employee apply?
Only if the stepparent is the child's legal guardian.
4. Can a grandchild of a DOC employee apply for the scholarship?
Only if the grandparent is the child's legal guardian.
5. Can a DOC employee apply for the scholarship?
No, only the children of correctional agency employees who are high school seniors, college undergraduate students, or college graduate students can apply. However, check with your agency to see if other scholarships or funding are available.
6. Is my child eligible to apply for the scholarship if I work as a contractor for the Department of Corrections?
No, the child's parent must work or have worked (retired, deceased) full-time for the Department of Corrections.
7. Can my child go to college out of state and still be eligible?
Yes, there are no stipulations on the location of the college your child attends.
8. Does the applicant have to be majoring in Criminal Justice?
No, applicants can have any major.
9. Are there any specific requirements for the letters of recommendation?
Yes, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation on a document with an official letterhead. AT LEAST ONE letter of recommendation MUST be from a teacher the applicant had in 2024, 2025, or 2026. Homeschooled applicants may apply and will want to make a note on the application that they are homeschooled. A letter of recommendation from parents is NOT acceptable. Letters of recommendation MUST INCLUDE a date indicating that it was NOT WRITTEN PRIOR to October 31, 2025. Letters of recommendation ARE NOT letters of acceptance to college or receipt of other honors. Previous SMH Scholarship recipients are exempt from providing letters of recommendation.
10. Can I file as a previous award recipient if I was awarded the scholarship in a year other than last year?
Yes, as long as you meet all of the eligibility requirements.
11. Do re-applicants need to send in an essay and two letters of recommendation?
Prior recipients who are re-applying do not need to send in an essay and two letters of recommendation. However, previous recipients do need to fill out and submit the online application. Re-applicants who were not awarded the scholarship do need to send in an essay and two letters of recommendation.
12. When do I need to send in a transcript?
All applicants (new and returning) must submit a transcript once they are notified that they have been selected as a scholarship recipient.
13. Will scholarship recipients need to provide proof of school registration?
Yes, all recipients must provide proof of full-time registration (12 credit hours) for Fall 2026 before a check is issued.
14. What do I do if I cannot find the "done" button at the end of the online application?
Ensure all required information is completed and move through the three pages of the application. If you still have trouble accessing the "done" button, try filling out the application in another browser (i.e., Firefox, Safari, etc.).
15. When will applicants be notified if they have been selected as scholarship recipients?
They will be notified upon selection and approval by the Scholarship Review Committee at the end of May 2026.
16. How many scholarships are issued each year?
The scholarship committee decides how many scholarships to award based on need and available funds. This number can change from year to year.
17. How will I be notified about the scholarship recipients?
All scholarship recipients will be notified by email and/or the phone number provided on the application. Applicants who were not selected as recipients will be notified by email.
18. How much money are the recipients awarded?
New recipients will be awarded $1,500. Renewals will receive $1,000. Please note that this may vary depending on the funds available.
How to Apply
Step 1. Open the 2026 Scholarship Application
Step 2. Enter your data.
Step 3. Be sure to press DONE to complete your application.
There are two parts:
A. Data regarding your demographics, college or university, cumulative GPA, field of study, and information regarding your parent(s) who work for a CLA member agency.
B. An essay that describes your career goals and what receiving this scholarship would mean to the completion of your undergraduate or graduate education.
Essays must be 300 words or less. Previous award recipients do not have to submit an essay.
Assemble Required Documents (Letters of recommendation for new applicants)
Faxed or hand-delivered materials will not be accepted.
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