SJT Mission & History

The George Washington University Stephen Joel Trachtenberg (SJT) Scholarship is an annual opportunity for high school graduates from D.C. to earn an undergraduate degree through full scholarships.

Launched in January 1989 as the 21st Century Scholarship by former university president Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, the award was designed to attract talented high school seniors from D.C.'s public high schools to GW. The university's Board of Trustees renamed the 21st Century Scholarship in 1999 to honor President Trachtenberg’s decade of service to GW. The SJT Scholarship was again expanded in 2008 to include students from D.C.’s public charter and private schools.

Scholars get the opportunity to study for a degree of their choice and through scholarship requirements, such as professional and civil experiences, develop as global citizens. Today, the SJT Scholarship continues to provide financial aid covering tuition, room and board, books, and fees to graduating seniors in the nation’s capital.