The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2017

60 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson (eighth from right) with Job Search Program graduates on Oct. 28. AFSA/GEMMADVORAK AFSAApplauds JSP Graduates On Oct. 28, AFSA Presi- dent Ambassador Barbara Stephenson congratulated graduates of the State Department’s Job Search Program. Amb. Stephenson encouraged JSP participants to rejoin AFSA as retiree members to continue the lifelong networking opportu- nities offered by the associa- tion—and reminded them that switching from active- duty to retiree status is not an automatic process. She also urged program graduates to engage with AFSA’s new 50-state strat- egy to “take the story of the Foreign Service out beyond the Beltway.” She noted that AFSA can provide talking points and resources for retirees and active service members who speak at high schools, colleges and social groups. If you join or establish a retiree group, please contact AFSA (member@afsa.org ) and let us know about your outreach efforts and activi- ties. n LAST CAL L FOR AFSA COL LEGE SCHOLARSH I P APPL I CAT I ONS ! The children of active-duty or retired, separated or deceased AFSA members can apply for college aid. Graduating high school seniors can apply for $2,500 academic and art merit awards along with a community service award, while incoming/current under- graduates can apply for need-based financial aid scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. The merit award program submission deadline is Feb. 6, and the need-based financial aid scholarship submission deadline is March 6. Not all who submit an application will receive an award. Visit www.afsa.org/scholar for details, or contact AFSA Scholarship Director Lori Dec at dec@afsa.org or (202) 944-5504. n ANNOUNCEMENT AFSA/JOSH