The UMA Board has approved two $500 scholarships for UMA Full Members or their child, step-child, or legally adopted child.

Click here for the UMA 2017 Annual Scholarship Rules and Application Form.

UMA 2017 ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP RULES

1. Any current UMA Full Member in good standing may personally apply for, or may submit an application for a scholarship for themselves, one child, step-child, or legally adopted child. A UMA Full Member in good standing is defined as a current government employee of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office who is current on their membership dues to the UMA at the time of application.
2. Scholarships will be granted for full-time educational programs offered by an accredited college, university or vocational/ technical schools, but not for correspondence or internet courses.
3. The UMA Board shall determine both the value and number of scholarships. For 2017, the board has approved two $500 scholarships.
4. The prospective recipient must be currently enrolled in or have been accepted by an accredited college, university or vocational/technical school.
5. Scholarship applicants must complete the official application form. No one shall be considered unless his or her name is submitted on an official application form and submitted via email to UMA@uspto.gov. Hand deliveries, mail, fax, etc. are not accepted.
6. Without exception, the UMA must receive an application no later than July 15, 2017.
7. Only one application may be submitted per UMA Full Member.
8. The drawing for the scholarships shall occur at the August UMA Monthly Meeting. Any UMA Board Member who has an application submitted in their name will be recused from the selection process.
9. Winning applications must provide written proof, from the applicable institution, of the student’s acceptance or current enrollment by September 15th of the year the scholarship was awarded. Failure to submit such written proof in timely fashion may result in withdrawal of the scholarship.
10. Scholarship monies shall be paid directly to the college, university or vocational/technical school the recipient is attending or will attend, to be credited to the recipient’s account, and not paid directly to the recipient.
11. Legal Notice: The USPTO affinity group, the USPTO Military Association (UMA), is able to offer scholarships to UMA members and their children, subject to the following restrictions:
    a. The funds will come from member dues because Federal employees are not permitted to ask for gifts that would be given because of their Federal employment status. Because the scholarship is limited to only USPTO employees and their children, UMA members may not solicit donations from any outside sources. UMA members may solicit funds from fellow USPTO employees but not from their subordinates.
    b. Any UMA member(s) making scholarship award decisions must disqualify themselves from evaluating any applications submitted by either their supervisor or the child of their supervisor, as subordinates are not allowed to provide gifts to their supervisors, except in limited circumstances.

Contact the UMA at UMA@uspto.gov if you have any questions.