Rear Admiral Sumner Shapiro Scholarship Program

The Rear Admiral Sumner Shapiro Scholarship Program awards scholarships to dependent children (under 24 years of age) of regular and reserve Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officer and enlisted intelligence personnel. The scholarship program also includes one specifically for active duty USN, USMC, and USCG enlisted personnel serving in intelligence-related assignments.

NIP is proud to offer these six individual $5000 scholarships:

  • Vice Admiral Donald D. Engen Scholarship
  • Captain Richard W. Bates Scholarship
  • Captain George J. O'Donnell, Jr. Scholarship
  • Commander Dan F. Shanower Scholarship
  • Captain (Select) Kurt William Juengling Scholarship
  • Captain Anthony D. Sesow Scholarship
  • CWO4 (Ret) Gene and Kimberly Maguire Scholarship (*added in 2022)

The Foundation Scholarship Cycle

  • Announcement of program eligibility requirements and submission procedures (January).
  • Online application becomes available (January).
  • Applications are due by 15 April.
  • Submissions are reviewed by a selected panel of NIP members who grade each candidate on the announced criteria of academic and athletic achievement, extracurricular activities and community service. Enlisted candidates are also evaluated on service performance.
  • Following the panels selection, a congratulatory letter is sent to each selectee (June).
  • Press releases are sent to each media outlet designated by the respective scholarship recipients. Letters are also sent to those who were not selected to thank them for their interest and to encourage submission in subsequent years.
  • The recipients are recognized on the website and in the Fall edition of the NIP READBOOK.

Application Status:

OPEN

Applications Due:

15 April 2024 (NO EXCEPTIONS)

Captain George J. O'Donnell, Jr.

2023 Awardee: Sofia Verich

Sofia Verich is a junior at Yale University on a Naval ROTC scholarship studying molecular biology. She plans to follow in her grandfather's footsteps and pursue a career in naval aviation. 

Sponsor: Captain Matthew Verich, USN (Retired)  

 


Vice Admiral Donald D. Engen

2023 Awardee: Grace Damato

Grace Damato is a sophomore at Florida State University on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship. She is studying biochemistry and interested in pursuing a career in naval aviation.  

*Grace was the 2022 winner of the CDR Dan Shanower Scholarship.

Sponsor: Captain Dave Damato, USN, COMSUBFOR Director of Intelligence


Captain Richard W. Bates

2023 Awardee: Caleb Sharman

Caleb Sharman graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, where he excelled in debate and varsity athletics. He is a freshman at the University of California at Los Angeles, majoring in both public affairs (public policy) and international development. He plans to continue his Chinese studies as well. The years he spent in Beijing and Hanoi with his parents have inspired him to pursue a career in intelligence. 

Sponsor: Captain Chris Sharman, USN (Retired)

 


Commander Dan F. Shanower

2023 Awardee: Iain Fergusson

Iain Fergusson graduated from Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. He is a freshman at Virginia Tech, in the Corps of Cadets, and plans to study biochemistry. He is an Eagle Scout who intends to serve in the U.S. Army after college, and then apply the GI Bill to pursue a career as a psychiatrist.

Sponsor: Captain Donald Fergusson, COMNAVAIRLANT


Captain (Select) Kurt William Juengling

2023 Awardee: Kevin Kappes

Kevin Kappes is a junior at the University of Denver, majoring in international studies and economics in the university's honors program. Kevin also was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society last year.

Sponsor: Captain Steve Kappes, USN (Retired)


CWO4 (Retired) Gene and Kimberly Maguire

2023 Awardee: IS1 Natasha Mohr

Petty Officer Natasha Mohr currently serves aboard USS Bataan (LHD-5) as one of three first class intelligence specialists who qualified as a fleet intelligence watch analyst. She also qualified as a member of the ship's combat systems training team and damage control training team. She was previously assigned to USS Nimitz (CVN-68), where she served as a red database manager and SNOOPIE Team photographer. She is completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in intelligence studies through American Military University.


Captain Anthony D. Sesow

2023 Awardee: CTN2 Cobalt Henson

Petty Officer Cobalt Henson is currently assigned to Cyber Strike Activity Sixty-three (CSA-63) and pursuing a degree in cybersecurity information technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Longer term, he plans to seek a reserve commission as an 1835 and continue serving as a senior cyber security analyst. 

Contact

The Foundation Committee
Naval Intelligence Professionals
Attn: Chairman, Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 11579
Burke, Virginia 22009-1579
nipscholarships@gmail.com