Susan M. Hunter Scholarship

The Susan M. Hunter Correctional Scholarship is named in honor of Susan M. Hunter, former Director of the Prisons Division at the National Institute of Corrections, as a lasting tribute to her commitment to the field of corrections. Susan passed away in 2004 from breast cancer. CLA’s Past Presidents’ Committee had been working toward a scholarship program for children of correctional staff. In the wake of her death, CLA grieved the loss of Susan, and the Committee made a logical decision to name the scholarship program after Susan, who had embodied the ideals of an educated and enlightened correctional workforce. Her life’s work continues in our memory of what she held dear, now expressed in our profession with contributions to deserving students whose parents labor in our Association's chosen field. 

Eligibility Requirements for the Susan M. Hunter Correctional Scholarship  
  • Students must be the child of a corrections employee (current full-time, retired, or deceased) within any CLA member Department of Corrections or jail/prison system. 

  • Vendor employees, correctional employees, their siblings, spouses, and grandchildren are not eligible. 

  • Incoming first-time freshmen, along with enrolled full-time college and graduate students, must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3. Students may be working toward a degree in any area of study. 

  •  Students must plan to be enrolled full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university, or an accredited graduate program for the Fall semester of the award year (verification will be required before the award is issued). 

You can view a list of scholarship FAQs here. It is highly recommended to review these before applying. The scholarship opens annually on February 1 and closes on March 31. 

Any questions can be directed to Tanna Perez at [email protected].

 

 Donations are 100% Tax Deductible

 

Congratulations, 2025 New Recipients!!

 

2025 Return Recipients 

Abby Byers - Pennsylvania DOC

Addison Drahota - Nebraska DOCS

Addison Stephani - Minnesota DOC

Alex Oswald - Iowa DOC

Alexa Gray - Colorado DOC

Amanda Thorpe - Colorado DOC

Amberlynn Anderson - Utah DOC

Ayden Cuzzort - Arkansas DOC

Benjamin White - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Briana Lopez - California DCR

Brinkley Hodshon - North Carolina DOC

Brooke Taylor - Wisconsin DOC

Cameron Kasbarian - Massachusetts DOC

Caroline Smith - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Claire Koechle - Iowa DOC

Cora Remacle - Wyoming DOC

Deanna Ransom - Pennsylvania DOC

Delaney Seaton - Pennsylvania DOC

Diego Casey - New Mexico CD

Diesel Whitten - Massachusetts DOC

Doreen Ontiveros - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Elizabeth Martin - Kentucky DOC

Emily Hart - Pennsylvania DOC

Emily Tanner - Rhode Island DOC

Ethan Barnes - New York State DOCCS

Ezekiel Blount - Florida DOC

Faheed Shafau - Michigan DOC

Haley Sykes - Virginia DOC

Hannah Magdziak - Pennsylvania DOC

Iris Denner - Florida DOC

Isabella Nagy - Pennsylvania DOC

Jayden Clark - South Dakota DOC

Jaysoni Beachum - Florida DOC

Jessica Greene - Arizona DOC

Jordyn Trowt - Vermont DOC

Joshua Yon - North Dakota DOCR

Julia Hills - Minnesota DOC

Kaitlyn Peterson - Minnesota DOC

Kaley Sykes - Virginia DOC

Kamryn Nicholson - Michigan DOC

Katelyn Mesch - New York State DOCCS

Kendall Marshall - Washington DOC

Lidia Jerry - Wyoming DOC

Lily Hoban - Delaware DOC

Lorenzo Tirado-Irizarry - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Madison Varner - Virginia DOC

McKinzie Schafer - Wyoming DOC

Michael Montoya - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Michael Underwood - Idaho DOC

Morgan Fisher - Colorado DOC

Morgan Robinette - Pennsylvania DOC

Morgan Watts - South Carolina DOC

Natalie Kitts - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Nathan Ransom - Pennsylvania DOC

Nevaeh KIMMIE - Louisiana DPSC

Noah Smith - Arkansas DOC

Olivia Ruschioni - Massachusetts DOC

Owen Bales - Virginia DOC

Rachel Kinnaman - Indiana DOC

Rachel Schild (Sestak) - South Dakota DOC

Raegen Lantry - Nebraska DOCS

Ridge Kaauwai - Hawaii DPS

Rose Smith - Kentucky DOC

Rose Stilwell - North Carolina DOC

Rylie Lowden - New Jersey DOC

Sana Ahmad - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Sophia Newsome - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Sydney Potter - Oregon DOC

Tamara Tate - Arkansas DOC

Tandy Treese - Washington DOC

Taylor Messer - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Tray Goddard - Oklahoma DOC

Tyler Vellone - Rhode Island DOC

 

Jayden McElravy - Washington DOC

Victoria Dichio - Florida DOC

William Whitley - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Yasmine Samara - Ohio DRC