Sherry Barndollar Rock Scholarship

 

Meeting the Educational Needs of Foreign Service Spouses and Partners: The Sherry Barndollar Rock Scholarship grants up to $4,000 annually to the spouses and partners of Foreign Service employees assigned abroad to pursue educational goals which may have been disrupted by the spouse’s Foreign Service career. 

The family and friends of the late Sherry Barndollar Rock, a Foreign Service spouse who accompanied her husband on several foreign assignments, have established a scholarship in her memory to support the Foreign Service community by helping members of the Foreign Service family pursue their educational goals. As a member of the Foreign Service community, Sherry recognized the challenge that a Foreign Service career presents to spouses who must take a fragmented approach to fulfill their personal educational goals from locations throughout the world. For Sherry’s family, it was a logical decision to honor her by establishing a scholarship to further support these educational needs. Sherry, who served as DACOR's and the DACOR Bacon House Foundation's Executive Director, was dedicated to the organization and of its education award programs. We are proud to be the home of the Sherry Barndollar Rock Scholarship. 
 

Details
  • Applications must be submitted via our online form and are due by January 15, 2025 for the 2025-2026 Academic Year.
  • The annual award will be up to $4,000.
  • The award can be used only for the payment of tuition. The DACOR Bacon House Foundation will make the payment directly to the educational institution.
  • The DACOR Bacon House Foundation Education Committee will review applications submitted by the deadline and select a recipient.
 General Eligibility
Family members, specifically spouses and partners of Foreign Service employees assigned abroad, whose academic careers have been disrupted by their spouse's Foreign Service career, are eligible to apply for the Sherry Barndollar Rock Scholarship. Children and other Members of Household (MOH) will not be eligible for the award.
 Eligible Foreign Service Employees
For the purposes of this award, eligible employees include the following: 
  • Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) and Foreign Service Specialists from the Departments of State, Commerce, and Agriculture. 
  • Foreign Service Officers at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). 
  • Foreign Service Officers at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (formerly VOA). 
  • USAID direct employees. 
  • Civil Service employees serving abroad in embassies and in support of our U.S. diplomatic mission are eligible while at post, but the eligibility will not continue when reassigned back in the United States.
    • Note: Members of the military, the intelligence agencies, and other domestic government agencies at post are not eligible for the award.
Eligible Assignments
The spouses and partners of eligible employees must be overseas, between foreign assignments, on unaccompanied tours, or evacuated from post.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
Recipients must be U.S. citizens and current members of DACOR, a private organization of foreign affairs professionals based in Washington, D.C. but with members throughout the world. Additional information about DACOR membership is available at www.dacorbacon.org/membership.
Eligible Programs of Study
Applicants will be expected to enroll in academic coursework which is a continuation of their past interests or represents a new area of study and interest. The applicant does not have to be enrolled in a degree program. Academic certifications which support professional advancement will be permitted depending on what type of certifications applicants are seeking. The scholarship awards must be used at accredited U.S. educational institutions only.