Student Conference at West Point

STUDENT CONFERENCE ON UNITED STATES AFFAIRS (SCUSA)

At the United States Military Academy, West Point

The International Center of The Capital Region (ICCR) sponsors an annual scholarship award competition for international student participation to the Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA) at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. For over seven years, the International Center has proudly sponsored the participation of two outstanding international students who are studying at one of the undergraduate colleges and universities in New York’s Capital Region, to serve as our delegates to the 2012 SCUSA Conference. Preference is given to matriculated international students who are in either their senior or junior year, at the top of their class (3.2 GPA or higher), majoring in a pertinent subject area to compete for the opportunity to attend this prestigious conference. Applications are also welcomed from visiting international students (inbound study abroad) specializing in American Studies, international relations, or other pertinent areas.

SCUSA hosts over 200 students from 125 schools throughout the United States and Canada, delegates from foreign military schools and Fulbright scholars representing over 30 countries. Eighty United States Military Academy cadets participate as delegates and approximately 120 cadets assisted in organization, logistics and administration. The entire structure of the conference is designed to provide a premiere educational experience for the student delegates where they have the opportunity to interact both individually and in group settings with foreign policy experts and to learn from each other. The goal is that when student delegates depart West Point, they do so with a greater understanding of the complexities surrounding foreign policy development.

Traditionally the theme of the conference concentrates on an international issue, which pertains not only to the United States but also the international community as a whole. The goal of the conference is to get the cadets and undergraduate delegates to consider the boundary-spanning nature of the policy problems that they will face as future policymakers and implementers. The highlights of the four-day conference include the opening senior panel discussion, an evening keynote banquet address, roundtable sessions, and a closing-report session. Recent keynote speakers have included Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Dr. Leslie Gelb, Admiral James Stavridis and Dr. Rajiv Shah.

The ICCR scholarship will provide the registration fee to attend this recognized prestigious conference. The registration fee covers all participation, meals and accommodation at the conference. Participants must pay for their own round-trip travel to West Point, NY.

Applicants should submit a letter of application, a resume, and the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of two faculty members or student advisors who can provide information about the applicants’ qualifications, interests and academic record.