Overview

The Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program offers an exceptional opportunity for students aspiring to build careers in fraud examination and related anti-fraud fields. This scholarship program not only provides financial assistance but also supports the growth of anti-fraud professionals through a year-long membership with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). With scholarship awards ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, this program helps students pursue their educational and career goals in anti-fraud disciplines. 

Dr. Joseph T. Wells, founder of the ACFE, highlighted the significance of their contributions, stating, “Both Tracy Ritchie and Larry Jennings exemplified the true spirit of our organization with their devotion to detecting, investigating, and deterring fraud and white-collar crime.”

Who Can Apply?

• Students must have a declared major or minor in accounting, business administration, finance, criminal justice, or a related field that focuses on fraud prevention.
• Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 semester hours per term and must be in the second half of their sophomore year, or a junior or senior, at the time of application.
• Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 6 semester hours per term.
• Students must be enrolled in an accredited, four-year university or college through the 2025-2026 academic year.

Application Procedure

The application period for the 2025-2026 academic year is currently open, and eligible students can apply through the online application system. The schedule for the scholarship application is as follows:

• Application Period Opens: September 9, 2024
• Application Deadline: February 7, 2025
• Recipients Announced: April 18, 2025
• Awards Distributed: May 1, 2025

Students can complete their application by visiting the official scholarship website and submitting the required documents. The selection committee will review applications based on the student’s fraud-related interests, activities, academic performance, and recommendations.

• Additional Documentation:

  • A completed scholarship application.
  • Official transcript(s) from the current institution.
  • Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), or someone who can speak to the student’s professional capabilities.

What Financial Support is Available?

The Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship offers the following financial awards:

• $10,000
• $7,500
• $5,000
• $2,000

Other Details

The scholarship is not open to the following individuals:

• Past scholarship award recipients.
• High school, junior college, or community college students.
• Undergraduate students who are not in the second half of their sophomore year.
• Students graduating in 2025 who will not be enrolled through the 2025-2026 academic year.
• ACFE chapter directors or officers.

For More Information

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