Susan M. Hunter Scholarship

Deeply held correctional ideals embodied the career of the late Susan M. Hunter, who was Chief of the Prisons Division at the National Institute of Corrections, for 20 years. She advocated correctional professionalism that requires gender parity among inmates and staff, adequate programs, and special considerations for the unique needs of women inmates and those requiring mental health services. She realized and proclaimed that the key to achieving these ideals was through the training and education of staff. The Susan M. Hunter scholarship honors Susan’s educational ideal by honoring you for your educational goals and efforts. CLA grants you this assistance as a child of a correctional employee. Go forth and strive for the enlightenment and knowledge that will prepare you to contribute to a better world. 

CLA is now accepting applications for the 2024 Susan M. Hunter Scholarship. 

The Susan M. Hunter Correctional Scholarship is named in honor of Susan M. Hunter, former Director of the Prisons Division at the National Institute of Corrections, as a lasting tribute to her commitment to the field of corrections.   

Susan passed away in 2004 from breast cancer.  CLA’s Past Presidents’ Committee had been working toward a scholarship program for children of correctional staff. In the wake of her death, CLA grieved the loss of Susan, and the Committee made a logical decision to name the scholarship program after Susan, who had embodied the ideals of an educated and enlightened correctional workforce. Her life’s work continues in our memory of what she held dear, which is now expressed in our profession with contributions to deserving students whose parents labor in our Association's chosen field. 

Eligibility Requirements for the Susan M. Hunter Correctional Scholarship: 

  • Students must be the child of a corrections employee (current full-time, retired, or deceased) within any CLA member Department of Corrections or jail/prison system. 

  • Vendor employees, correctional employees, their siblings, spouses, and grandchildren are not eligible. 

  • Incoming first-time freshmen, along with enrolled full-time college and graduate students, must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3. Students may be working toward a degree in any area of study. 

  •  Students must be enrolled full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university, or an accredited graduate program.

For 2024, awarded scholarship amounts will be $1,500 for undergraduate and graduate students and $1000 for individuals who had received a $1,500 scholarship a prior year. 

You can view a list of scholarship FAQs here.  

To apply, students can use the following link.

Susan M Hunter Scholarship Application

The application deadline is March 31st, 2024.

Any questions can be directed to Tanna Perez at [email protected].