The PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health (COF) will be offering Family Membership Scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year. These scholarships are funded by active duty and retired Public Health Service (PHS) officers, Commissioned Officers Association (COA) Local Branches, and other donors.

The application for this year closed on May 13, 2022. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in June, 2022.

Note: If you received a Family Member Scholarship in 2021, please do not reapply. Contact [email protected] directly to discuss multi-year funding options.

Application Process

​Applications must be submitted online and include the following items:

  • A 3,000 character (500 word) essay describing academic and career goals and how the area of focus relates to the Public Health Service (PHS) professional categories and/or the improvement of public health. Find the complete list of PHS professional categories at www.usphs.gov/explore-opportunities/.

  • Two letters of recommendation.

  • A copy of a current high school and/or college transcripts as applicable.

  • For high school students or incoming freshmen, a copy of a letter of acceptance to the applicant’s chosen college.

  • Activities/Honors/Employment form (found here).

young adults in a classroom smiling
Apply Now

Eligibility Criteria

Matriculated students for undergraduate or graduate study in the United States who are:

  • Biological, step, or adopted child or grandchild of a member of the Commissioned Officers Association (COA) of the USPHS
  • Spouse of a member of COA

Selection Criteria and Announcement

​A scholarship review committee will select recipients. The recipients will be announced on the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation website and in the Commissioned Officers Association newsletter, Frontline. We anticipate announcing winners by mid-June, 2022.

Past Recipients

Questions? Please reach out.

* INDICATES REQUIRED FIELD