Thomas Cobar, an incoming first-year student at Cornell College, has been selected for the highly competitive Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship. Cobar is planning to major in data science and analytics. As he begins his college journey in Fall 2025, the Scholarship-For-Service Program provides a full tuition award, a generous stipend, summer internships, and mentorship—culminating in a civilian career at the Department of Defense upon graduation.
“The Department of Defense SMART Scholarship Award allows me to attend my dream college, study what I am interested in, and will open the door to a better future,” Cobar said.
Cobar’s post-graduation placement is already secured—he’ll join the Naval Undersea Warfare Center - Keyport Division in Washington, where he’ll apply his skills to real-world challenges in national security and defense innovation.
The SMART Program, a major STEM-focused scholarship initiative supported by the Department of Defense, has awarded more than 6,000 scholarships since its launch in 2006. Designed to strengthen the future technical workforce, the program offers students access to academic funding, hands-on experience, and career opportunities at over 100 defense facilities across the country.