USDA Scholarship Programs

OPEDA Scholarship Program

The Organization of Professional Employees of the USDA (OPEDA) accepts scholarship applications March 1st through June 30th of each year. OPEDA members in good standing and their family members attending college are eligible to apply. Two scholarships are awarded in honor of John W. Peterson and Steven “Tom” Stefani for their exemplary service to OPEDA, the USDA, and our country. We encourage you to visit OPEDA’s website for more information about membership and scholarship opportunities.

Adel A. Malak Scholarship

As an Adel A. Malak Scholarship recipient, you will experience and take on a variety of Public Health Veterinarian responsibilities to more fully understand the great work FSIS does to protect public health through food safety.

Saul T. Wilson, Jr., Scholarship Program (STWJS) (PDF, 542KB)

A career in public veterinary health would afford you the opportunity to be involved with the health of major animal populations in many activity areas. Veterinarians have a responsibility for the health of the Nation’s animals, and public health veterinarians can have a broad and lasting impact on animal health issues. A hallmark of VS is its multidisciplinary approach to working on animal health problems. VS has employment opportunities in the public veterinary field for professionals from a variety of disciplines. Additionally, APHIS employs veterinarians in its Animal Care and Plant Protection and Quarantine programs. Employment opportunities are located throughout the United States.

USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program

Scholars for applicants attending 1994 Land Grant Tribal Colleges and Universities seeking careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences, and/or other related disciplines.

USDA/Public Service Leader Scholars (PSLS)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Public Service Leaders Scholarship Program provides combined scholarship and internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students leading to permanent employment upon completion of their degree. The program is designed to promote public service and create access to higher education.

William F. Helms Internship Program

USDA offers tuition assistance, mentoring, and summer work to college students interested in pursuing a career related plant pathology, biology, virology, ecology, and entomology.