Stokes Educational Scholarship Program - Language (Maryland)

CNSS • National Security Systems; Pierson (FL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

National Security Agency (NSA) invites high school seniors to apply to the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program focused on Chinese or Farsi language studies. The program funds college tuition and provides up to $30,000 per academic year toward educational fees, with housing/travel benefits for eligible students.

Participants attend a full-time college program in the U.S. and work at NSA for at least 12 weeks each summer, in language-related assignments, with a post-graduation service

Qualifications

• Eligibility requires U.S. citizenship.
• GPA targets include 3.0+ after freshman year; 2.75 freshman year.

Responsibilities

• Attend college full-time in the U.S. and work at NSA for a minimum of 12 weeks each summer in assignments related to language studies (Chinese or Farsi).
• Commit to work at NSA after graduation in a foreign language position for a period equal to 1.5 times the length of scholarship support.
• Housing and travel benefits may be available for eligible students during summer employment at NSA.

Skills

Language aptitude

Education

High school senior

Job description

Responsibilities

As a participant in the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program ' Language, you will attend college full-time at an accredited institution of your choice within the United States and work at NSA for a minimum of 12 weeks each summer in assignments related to your course of study in Chinese or Farsi language. In return, selected participants are required to work at NSA after college graduation in a foreign language position related to Chinese or Farsi for a period equal to one and one-half times the length of their scholarship support. Participants who leave NSA employment before fulfilling this service commitment will be required to repay the government for tuition and mandatory educational fees received through the program. Students accepted into the program must maintain:

• A minimum 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale during the freshman year
• A minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale each semester/quarter after the freshman year

Fort George G. Meade Complex, MD

Pay Plan: GG, Grade: 02/1 to 02/10

Open: 2026-09-01, Close: 2026-09-30

Job Summary

The National Security Agency (NSA) is currently accepting applications nationwide for the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program ' Language. This tuition assistance program is designed for high school seniors who plan to pursue Chinese or Farsi language studies as part of their college degree program. This program offers an exceptional opportunity to gain valuable experience in foreign language-related work across the Agency while earning an annual salary. Selected participants may receive up to $30,000 per academic year toward tuition and mandatory educational fees. Students whose school is located more than 75 miles from NSA may also be eligible for housing and travel benefits during summer employment at NSA.

As a participant in the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program ' Language, you will attend college full-time at an accredited institution of your choice within the United States and work at NSA for a minimum of 12 weeks each summer in assignments related to your course of study in Chinese or Farsi language.

Qualifications

Please note that eligibility requirements may change from year to year. Basic qualifications are listed below. Important: Applicants who have a full college scholarship are not eligible for the Stokes Program. Students who are dually enrolled and will earn an AA degree are also not eligible for this program. Those students are encouraged to apply to the Cooperative Ad or the Summer Internship Ad instead.

• Basic Requirements for High School Seniors Applicants must meet the following criteria:
• U.S. citizenship
• Preferred GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning foreign languages
• High school transcripts must reflect a minimum of three years of coursework in a world language (Chinese or Farsi)
• If available, applicants may also submit evidence of the following:
• Seal of Biliteracy, as recognized by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
• Scores from ACTFL
• Scores from the National Examinations in World Languages (NEWL)
• Results from other relevant language assessments

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

$35,749 annually (GG 2, Step 1)

DCIPS Disclaimer

VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS** Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority. Veterans' Preference In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application. Acceptable documentation includes: - DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4); OR - Certification of Service: A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date; AND - Standard Form 15 (SF-15) Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf). If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability; AND - VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating) You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/). **Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans' preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.

NSA is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable employment laws and regulations.

All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph.

Reasonable accommodations are provided, where appropriate, to applicants with disabilities during the application and hiring process.