NAFIS is honored to announce the 2026 John Forkenbrock Memorial National Educational Scholarship, established in memory of John Forkenbrock, who served as NAFIS Executive Director for 27 years. John led with extraordinary knowledge, dedication, and commitment to Impact Aid and the communities it serves, dedicating his career to advancing educational opportunities for federally connected students across the country.
Modeled on a similar award developed by Impact Schools of South Dakota (ISSD) in consultation with him upon his retirement, this scholarship is funded through memorial contributions to ISSD. This year, eligibility has been expanded nationwide to reflect the broad impact of John’s work. The scholarship will support 2026 graduating seniors from NAFIS-member school districts who plan to pursue careers in education or related fields that serve students, schools, and learning communities.
Awards:
- 1 scholarship of $10,000
- 3 scholarships of $5,000
- 10 scholarships of $1,000
Eligibility: Applicants must be:
- Graduating seniors enrolled in a current NAFIS-member school district serving grades 9-12 (check your school district’s status on the 2025-2026 NAFIS membership list). Note: any graduating senior in a NAFIS-member district is eligible, regardless of whether they live or their family works on federal land.
- Enrolling in an accredited postsecondary institution for the 2026 fall semester.
- Pursuing a degree in an education-related career field, including but not limited to teaching, counseling, psychology, physical or occupational therapy, speech therapy, library/media services, early childhood education, and educational policy or leadership.
- Maintaining a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher, as certified by a school official.
In addition to completing the application form, candidates must secure two letters of recommendations (appropriate recommenders may include teachers, school counselors, coaches, employers, or community leaders; they may not include family members).
How to Apply: Complete the application form and submit it, combined with the two letters of recommendation, as a single PDF via email to mschoch@sio.midco.net with subject line: “Forkenbrock Scholarship: Applicant’s First and Last Name.”
Application Deadline: May 1, 2026.
Share This Opportunity: Download and distribute our scholarship flyer, perfect for posting in schools or sharing directly with students and families.
Questions? Please contact Max Schochenmaier at mschoch@sio.midco.net or 605-310-0711.