Debbie Rice Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology

The Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology (ALET) organization invites graduating seniors to apply for its $10,000 2026 ALET Debbie Rice Memorial Scholarship. Applicants who meet the criteria below should read the guidelines carefully and follow the directions for submission. All applications and supporting materials must be postmarked by the December deadline, in the formats indicated below.

Eligible Applicants:

• The student must be a high school senior enrolled in an accredited Alabama high school.
• The technology director of the school system where the student is enrolled must have been a member of ALET as of September 30, 2026.
• The applicant must have a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher, using a 4.0 scale-unweighted.
• The applicant must have an ACT score of 17 or higher.
• Applicants must have the endorsement/signature of their Guidance Counselor/Principal on their application, attesting they are qualified to apply for this scholarship.
• The student must plan to attend an accredited college, university, or technical school physically located in the state of Alabama. Full-time online colleges do not qualify.
• The student should be interested in pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a technology-related field.
• The student should be able to demonstrate a history of volunteering and be active in school or non-school extracurricular activities.

2027 ALET Member Scholarship (AMS)

Applicants whose parent was an ALET member as of September 30, 2026, and who wish to be considered for the $5,000 ALET Member Scholarship must be sure to indicate this on the application.  Applicants may be awarded either the Debbie Rice Memorial Scholarship or the ALET Member Scholarship, but not both. Previous winners of the ALET Member Scholarship are not eligible to apply a second time. 

AMS Eligible Applicants:

• Parent must have been a member of ALET on or before the September deadline.
• High school or college student
• High school students should submit all of the materials needed for the Debbie Rice Memorial Scholarship, but the award will be based on a drawing of all eligible students, not on a competitive basis.
• College students must submit a resume and their college transcript:
  • Transcripts must come from the student’s college but do not need to be official.
  • The transcript should include first-semester grades for this academic year, or a copy of the student’s first-semester grades should be included.
  • Transcripts may be uploaded or emailed to [email protected]. If emailed, they must be dated on or before the December deadline.

How to Apply Online: 

1. Review the required materials checklist below.
2. Gather all necessary information and documents.
3. Applicants may only submit one online application.
4. Documents needed

Document

Resume

• Both DRMS & AMS applicants

 Instructions

• Academic honors, awards, and membership activities while in high school
• List of hobbies, outside interests, extracurricular activities, and school-related volunteer activities
• List of non-school-sponsored volunteer activities in the community and/or jobs
• Limit 2 pages: Upload in PDF, DOC, or DOCX format

Essay DRMS applicants only

Essay: Please answer these questions in the order below to receive full points.

• Describe a life experience that shaped who you are today.
• Describe your academic and career goals and your plans to achieve them.
• How did you choose this career path?
• Explain why technology is an important component of this career.
• 500-word limit, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1" margins.
• Points may be deducted if you respond to the essay questions in the wrong order.
• Must be uploaded in PDF, DOC, or DOCX format

Two Letters of Recommendation DRMS applicants only
 

• Letters must be signed by the author and must also include their printed name, phone number, mailing address, and email address.
• One letter must be from the principal and/or counselor of the student’s high school.
• Must show signatures, not just the typed name of the sender
• May be uploaded in PDF format or emailed (upload formats accepted: PDF, PNG, JPG

Transcripts Both DRMS & AMS applicants

• Do not need to be official, but must be verifiable through school or college
• College students need only their college transcript, not their high school transcript
• May be uploaded in PDF format or emailed

Report Card DRMS applicants

• High School Students - Not needed if current grades are on transcript
• For 1st grading period of this school year
• May be uploaded or emailed

ACT Report DRMS applicants

• If not included in transcript
• May be uploaded or emailed