USA Scholarships
Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship 2027
The Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship 2027 is a Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority award for residents who will train in engineering or a technical trade and then come back to work for WAPA. The posting opened 5 October 2026. Bachelor's applicants can receive up to $80,000, associate and technical applicants up to $30,000, and master's applicants up to $60,000 for no more than three years. The money can pay tuition, room and board, fees, books, and supplies, and it is not meant to cover every bill. If you do not work for WAPA for as many years as you were funded, you repay the unpaid portion. The deadline is 15 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Time.
What is the Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship?
The Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship 2027 is how the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority grows its own engineers and technicians. Alva C. McFarlane sat on the WAPA governing board and ran apprenticeship and training at the Virgin Islands Department of Labor. The authority named the fund for that work. The GovernmentJobs posting, number 01385, opened on 5 October 2026. WAPA told the public on 9 October, during Public Power Week, that applications were open.
Three tracks sit on the same deadline. A bachelor's path, for graduating seniors and for college freshmen and sophomores, including University of the Virgin Islands students on the five-year or dual-degree engineering route, can pay up to $80,000. An associate or technical path can pay up to $30,000, covering electrical engineering technology, electronics, related fields, and skilled trades. A master's path, marked as new on the posting, can pay up to $60,000 for at most three years, and current WAPA employees may apply if they already hold an engineering bachelor's. Money can go to tuition, room and board, fees, books, and supplies. You are expected to use other aid too. Before each semester you send an expense statement and your aid package.
Read the work rule before you celebrate the dollar figure. WAPA treats the award as a non-interest-bearing loan. After graduation you work for the authority for as many years as you were funded. Skip that and you repay the unmatched years. Fall out of full-time study, or miss a 2.5 GPA in the first two years and a 3.0 after that, and dismissal can mean repayment with interest. Selection also follows what the utility needs to hire, plus grades, test scores, activities, need, and an interview.
You must live in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The announcement adds U.S. citizenship and no criminal record. That makes this a local pipeline, not an award for international students or for residents of the 50 states. If you want an engineering scholarship without a utility job attached, compare the NRF Founders Engineering Scholarship and keep the obligations separate. File at the WAPA posting by 15 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Time. Carvelle Rogers answers questions at [email protected].
Eligibility
-
✓U.S. Virgin Islands residentThe application says you must be a resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 9 October 2026 authority announcement also says applicants must be U.S. citizens with no criminal record. Read both. A student from another state or another country is outside this program. The Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship 2027 is not a national engineering award.
-
✓Right level for the track you pickBachelor's track: graduating high school seniors, plus college freshmen and sophomores, including University of the Virgin Islands students in or entering the dual-degree engineering program. Associate or technical track: high school seniors aiming at electrical engineering technology, electronics engineering, or a related field, or people heading to trade school or a technical certification. Master's track: students in an accredited graduate engineering program who already hold an engineering bachelor's. Current WAPA employees may apply for the master's track. Scholarship support on that track lasts at most three years.
-
✓An eligible engineering or technical fieldThe posting lists electrical, mechanical, civil, power systems, environmental, energy systems or energy engineering, renewable energy, and engineering management. Associate applicants are pointed at electrical engineering technology, electronics engineering, or a related field, or at skilled trades such as mechanic, plumber, electrician, or carpenter.
-
✓Full-time study and a rising GPAWhile you are funded you must carry a full-time course load. The GPA floor is 2.5 for the first two years and 3.0 after that. Dropping below the line, or leaving full-time study, can end the award and trigger repayment with interest.
-
✓Willing to work at WAPA afterwardThese awards are non-interest-bearing loans. You must work for WAPA right after graduation for a period equal to the number of years you received funds. If you do not, you repay the funds for the years you did not work. Selection also weighs academic achievement, test scores, extracurriculars, financial need, an interview, and WAPA's hiring needs.
Benefits
- Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship 2027 bachelor's award Up to $80,000
- Tuition, room, board, fees, books, supplies Eligible uses
- Every remaining college bill Not guaranteed
- Work for WAPA after graduation Required, year for year
- Associate or technical award Up to $30,000
- Tuition, room, board, fees, books, supplies Eligible uses
- Every remaining training bill Not guaranteed
- Work for WAPA after graduation Required, year for year
- Master's award Up to $60,000, max 3 years
- Tuition, room, board, fees, books, supplies Eligible uses
- Every remaining graduate bill Not guaranteed
- Work for WAPA after graduation Required, year for year
Document checklist
-
✓GovernmentJobs applicationFile on the WAPA posting, job number 01385, at governmentjobs.com. The posting opened 5 October 2026 and closes 15 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Time.
-
✓College acceptance or enrollment letterThe selection list includes a college acceptance or enrollment letter. High school seniors should have an admissions letter for an accredited engineering or technical program.
-
✓Academic transcript and resumeBoth are named in the selection criteria. Include standardized admission test scores when you have them. The announcement says scores are part of review.
-
✓Extracurricular and need informationReviewers look at extracurricular activities and financial need. Put both in the application rather than assuming a transcript covers them.
-
✓Expense statement and aid package, if selectedBefore each semester, recipients must submit an official statement of expenses and a copy of their financial aid package. You do not need that packet on day one, and you will need it before money is released.
-
✓InterviewA candidate interview is part of selection. A committee of staff engineers, WAPA leadership, and human resources reads the files. The announcement also describes a panel interview.
How to apply
-
1
Pick the track that matches your level
Choose bachelor's, associate or technical, or master's. A high school senior is not a master's applicant. A student who already holds an engineering bachelor's is not on the freshman bachelor's track.
-
2
Confirm USVI residency and the service term
You need to live in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 9 October announcement also requires U.S. citizenship and no criminal record. Read the work rule before you apply. The award converts to a debt if you do not work at WAPA for as many years as you were funded.
-
3
Match your major to the posted list
Stay inside electrical, mechanical, civil, power systems, environmental, energy, renewable energy, or engineering management, or the associate and trade fields the posting names.
-
4
Apply on the WAPA GovernmentJobs posting
Use job number 01385, titled 2027 Alva McFarlane Scholarship Program. Attach the acceptance or enrollment letter, transcript, resume, activities, and need details the form requests.
-
5
Submit by 15 January 2027
The close is 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Time. Questions can go to Carvelle Rogers at [email protected] or the authority phone line at (340) 774-3552.
-
6
Prepare for an interview and a semester aid check
Final review includes an interview. If you are selected, you still send an expense statement and your financial aid package before each semester, and you must stay full-time at the posted GPA.
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
Who can apply for the Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship?
Residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 9 October 2026 WAPA announcement also requires U.S. citizenship and no criminal record. High school seniors, college freshmen and sophomores, trade and associate students, and engineering master's students are on different tracks. Students who live in the 50 states, and international students who are not USVI residents, are not eligible.
How much is the Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship for a bachelor's degree?
Up to $80,000 on the bachelor's track. The associate or technical track goes up to $30,000. The master's track, which is new in this posting, goes up to $60,000 for a maximum of three years. Funds may be used for tuition, room and board, fees, books, and supplies. The award is not designed to pay every educational expense.
Is the Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship a loan?
WAPA grants it as a non-interest-bearing loan tied to a job. You work for the authority immediately after graduation for as many years as you received aid. If you do not, you repay the funds that match the years you did not work. If you are dismissed for breaking the agreement, repayment with interest can apply.
What GPA do I need for the Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship?
While you are in the program, 2.5 for the first two years and 3.0 for the rest of your studies, on a full-time course load. Selection itself looks at academic achievement, standardized test scores, activities, financial need, an interview, and whether WAPA needs people in your field.
Which majors qualify for the Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship?
Electrical, mechanical, civil, power systems, environmental, energy systems or energy engineering, renewable energy, and engineering management. Associate applicants can aim at electrical engineering technology, electronics engineering, or a related field. Trade applicants can aim at paths such as mechanic, plumber, electrician, or carpenter, or another technical certification the posting accepts.
When is the Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship deadline?
15 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Time. The GovernmentJobs posting opened 5 October 2026. Apply on that posting, job number 01385, not by email.
Can current WAPA employees apply for the Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship?
Yes, for the master's track, if you are in an accredited graduate engineering program and you hold a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited college. The posting names employees specifically on that track.
Does the Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship cover students outside the Virgin Islands?
No. Residency in the U.S. Virgin Islands is required. The authority's 9 October announcement also limits the award to U.S. citizens. You can study at a campus away from the territory, including the University of the Virgin Islands dual-degree engineering route, and you still have to be a USVI resident when you apply and return to work at WAPA.
Scholarship Union
More in-depth scholarship guides curated by experts.
Related guides
Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.
Visit official website