2027 Alva McFarlane Scholarship Program

The Alva McFarlane Scholarship Program was established to prepare young Virgin Islanders for technical careers with the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and improve the recruitment of technical expertise through the development of local talent.

The scholarship was named in honor of the late Alva McFarlane,  former member of the WAPA Governing Board and former Director of Apprenticeship and Training at the Virgin Islands Department of Labor. The Authority has benefited substantially as a result of scholarship recipients who completed their education and returned to the territory to begin their career journey.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 15, 2027
• Study LevelMasters , Undergraduate
• SponsorValencia College
• Eligible CountryUnited States

Benefits

• Bachelor's Degree - up to $80,000
• Associate's / Technical Degree - up to $30,000
• Master's Degree - up to $60,000 (NEW)

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree:
  • Graduating high school senior
  • College freshman and sophomore, including UVI students enrolled or planning to enroll in the dual degree engineering program
• Associate's / Technical Degree:
  • Graduating high school seniors who plan to pursue an Associate's degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering, or a related field, or
  • Plan to attend trade school or pursue a certification in a technical field

• Master's Degree:
  • Enrolled in an accredited graduate engineering program
  • Holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited engineering college or university
  • Period of scholarship: maximum three (3) years
  • Current WAPA employees are eligible to apply

The following engineering majors will be considered:

•        Electrical Engineering

•        Mechanical Engineering

•        Civil Engineering

•        Power Systems Engineering

•        Environmental Engineering

•        Energy Systems or Energy Engineering

•        Renewable Energy

•        Engineering Management

Selection Process

Selection Criteria

• USVI resident
• College acceptance or enrollment letter
• Extracurricular activities
• Financial need
• Academic transcript & resume
• Candidate interview
• Operational needs of WAPA

Scholarship applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of staff engineers, members of the WAPA leadership team, and human resources.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

For more information, kindly visit the WAPA webpage.