The Foreign Service Journal, November 2022

AFSA joined the Foreign Service Youth Foundation and the Global Community Liaison Office in honoring excellence in Foreign Service youth at the 2022 Youth Awards Ceremony. The event took place on Aug. 24 in the State Department’s George C. Marshall Center. More than 100 guests attended the ceremony, which was hosted by the Foreign Service Youth Foundation to celebrate the achievements of the children of U.S. foreign affairs agency employees. AFSATreasurer John O’Keefe and Executive Direc- tor Ásgeir Sigfússon pre- sented the association’s 2022 merit scholarships to the seven recipients who joined for the ceremony. FSYF President John Naland, who is also AFSA’s VP for retirees, then presented the foundation’s merit schol- arships and essay and art awards to the five recipients who were able to be inWash- ington, D.C., for the event. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s letter of congratula- tions to the awardees was read aloud, and the Bureau of Global Talent Management’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Nina Maria Fite delivered the keynote address. Each year AFSA awards merit scholarships in the cat- egories of academic achieve- ment, art merit, and commu- nity service to graduating high school seniors. Awards range from $1,000 to $3,500 and go November 11 Veterans Day AFSA offices closed November 14 - December 12 Federal Health Benefits Open Season November 15 12-1 p.m. Webinar: 2023 FEHB Insurance and Benefits, including Medicare coordination November 16 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting November 24-25 Thanksgiving Holiday AFSA offices closed December 1 AFSA Scholarship Applications Available December 1 Time TBD Webinar: Reviewing Your Retirement Plan December 7 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting December 26 Christmas Day Observed AFSA offices closed January 2 New Year’s Day Observed AFSA offices closed January 15 Governing Board Election Cycle for 2023-2025 Board Begins AFSA NEWS AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION AFSA Recognizes Foreign Service Youth CALENDAR THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2022 67 Please check www.afsa.org for the most up-to-date information. toward alleviating tuition costs for recipients. This year the AFSA Schol- arship Program awarded $263,000 in need-based Financial Aid scholarships, divided among 74 students, and distributed $143,500 in 48 Merit Awards going to 38 students, some of whom received awards in more than one category. After two years of cer- emony cancellations due to the pandemic, the FSYF was pleased to congratulate award recipients in person this year. Next year, the foun- dation hopes to live-stream the event worldwide so all winners and their families can view it. AFSA thanks the members of the AFSA Scholarship Com- mittee and 44 other AFSA members who volunteered their time to judge this year’s merit scholarship submis- sions. For more information on AFSA’s Scholarship Program, please visit www.afsa.org/ scholar or email scholar@ afsa.org . Detailed information on all the 2022 Merit Scholar- ship recipients can be found in the September issue of The Foreign Service Journal . n 2022 Youth Award winners were recognized by Foreign Service Youth Foundation President John Naland (third from left) and GTM PDAS Nina Maria Fite (center). Recipients of AFSA’s 2022 Merit Award scholarships pose with GTM PDAS Nina Maria Fite (center) and AFSA Treasurer John O’Keefe (second from right). AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA