Stephen T. Schibell Legacy Scholarship
The Stephen T. Schibell Legacy Scholarship honors the profound legacy of Stephen T. Schibell, whose distinguished career at the National Security Agency (NSA) epitomized excellence and dedication to national security. This scholarship supports an ROTC student each year who demonstrates exceptional skills in mathematics and engineering and embodies the patriotic spirit and commitment to service that Stephen exemplified.
About Stephen T. Schibell
Stephen T. Schibell, born on July 7, 1953, in Long Branch, NJ, was a brilliant scholar of mathematics and engineering. After graduating from Long Branch High School, he earned a B.S. and a M.S. in mathematics, and a M.S. in electrical engineering from Rutgers University. Under the mentorship of Charles Coffin Sims, a pioneer in computational group theory, Stephen developed a deep proficiency in analyzing algorithms and data structures, which later became foundational in his NSA work.
Stephen joined the NSA in 1983, where he made significant contributions to cryptographic systems and network algorithms. His work was vital in enhancing the agency's operational capabilities in a period of rapid technological change. Stephen was a prolific scholar, authoring and co-authoring numerous publications, including his notable work on "Processor Interconnection Networks from Cayley Graphs," featured in prominent journals such as Discrete Applied Mathematics, The Journal of Combinational Algorithms, Informatics and Computational Sciences. His scholarly output included 25 papers, with 21 being classified, spanning a range of topics critical to national security. Stephen's research extended to unclassified studies that aimed at finding general-purpose routing algorithms for interconnection networks, contributing to a broader understanding of computational structures essential for secure communications.
In addition to his research and development roles, Stephen co-directed the NSA’s Cryptomathematics Summer Program, mentoring Ph.D. candidates who often returned to the NSA as full-time mathematicians, thereby extending his influence on a new generation of scholars. Throughout his career, he held the highest civilian security clearance and served under five U.S. presidents, shaping crucial national security strategies with his insights.
Scholarship Details
Eligibility: The scholarship is awarded annually to an ROTC student in the United States who has demonstrated outstanding achievements in mathematics and engineering and who shows a strong commitment to their community and the nation.
Award: Financial assistance is provided to support the collegiate studies of a student who aspires to lead in their field and serve their community, reflecting Stephen’s own career and values.
Application Process: The candidate must submit their academic transcripts, a letter of recommendation, and a personal essay discussing their achievements in STEM and their aspirations for contributing to national and community welfare.
Selection Criteria: The recipient is selected based on their academic excellence, leadership qualities, and potential to embody the values of integrity, dedication, and service in their professional life.
Remembering Stephen
Through this scholarship, we celebrate and perpetuate Stephen T. Schibell’s contributions to mathematics, national security, and his unwavering integrity. Through the recipient of this scholarship, Stephen’s dedication to improving the world through science and service lives on. His life serves as an inspiration, and his gentle strength remains a guiding light for all who seek to follow in his footsteps.