Ritchie Jennings Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Association of Fraud Examiners
The Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship helps students further their education and build careers in anti-fraud work. Recipients also receive one year of ACFE membership. Awards of $10,000, $7,500, $5,000 and $2,000 are granted and paid directly to the winner’s college or university.
Congratulations to our 2025–2026 Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship recipients.
History
The program began in 1992 to support students who showed academic achievement in fraud-related fields. In 1998 it was renamed the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship to honor ACFE members Larry Jennings, CFE, and Tracy Ritchie, CFE, who were among five people killed in the terrorist attack in Karachi, Pakistan, on November 14, 1997.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must submit:
- A completed scholarship application
- Official academic transcript(s)
- Two letters of recommendation from a professor or a professional who can attest to the applicant’s qualifications
Who May Apply
Applicants must intend to pursue a career in fraud examination or a related anti-fraud profession and meet all of the following:
- Have a declared major or minor in accounting, business administration, finance, criminal justice, or a closely related fraud-focused discipline
- Be enrolled at an accredited four-year college or university and remain enrolled through the 2026–2027 academic year
- Undergraduate students must carry at least 9 semester hours (or equivalent) per term and be a junior, senior, or at minimum in the latter half of their sophomore year at the time of application
- Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 6 semester hours (or equivalent) per term
Who Is Not Eligible
The scholarship is not open to:
- Previous recipients of this scholarship
- High school, junior college, or community college students
- Undergraduates who are only in their freshman year
- Students who will graduate in 2026 (recipients must be enrolled through 2027)
- ACFE chapter directors or officers
Application Timeline (for the 2026–2027 academic year)
- Application period opens: September 1, 2025
- Application deadline: February 2, 2026
- Recipients announced: April 30, 2026
- Awards distributed to institutions: May 7, 2026
Selection Process and Non-Discrimination
The ACFE Foundation selects scholarship recipients annually and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or sexual orientation.
Awards are decided based on:
- A complete application submission
- Demonstrated interest, activities, goals, and commitment to a fraud-related career
- Academic performance as shown on transcripts
- Strength of recommendation forms
The online application for the 2026–2027 cycle is available during the application period.