Star Awards

To be considered eligible, one must be:

  • An Employee of GE Aerospace as of the application deadline (please note that employees whose children are selected to receive awards must remain eligible as of the award announcement date, typically by the end of May). A valid SSO ID is required.
  • Below Executive Band (Executive Band and above employees including Company Officers are not eligible).

Students from any country may be eligible. Specific details for school systems in certain countries are listed separately in the FAQs.  For timing, the application deadline is February 13, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)/New York Time. To convert this time zone to your location, please use Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator. For additional information, please check Timeline and How to Apply.

If your first enrollment in post-secondary / university study will be during the calendar year 2025, apply now for the upcoming competition (see Timeline). Winners will be announced in Spring of 2025. If your first enrollment in post-secondary / university study will be during the calendar year 2026, you should apply for the next competition, which is tentatively scheduled to open in December 2025.

Canada:
Quebec applicants must have attained CEGEP or a Secondary Leaving Certificate. For Quebec students enrolling in a CEGEP program:

For pre-university CEGEP programs, you will apply for the 4-Year Category in your 2nd year of CEGEP.
For career CEGEP programs, you will apply for the 2-Year Category in your last year of high school.

India:
If you are planning on attending a 3-5 year university program, you will apply for the 4-Year Category in your final year of higher secondary school (class 12).

  • This option applies to applicants who plan to obtain a Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) or  Senior Secondary Certificate or (ICE) Intermediate Examination Certificate. 

If you are planning on attending a 2-year (or equivalent) non-university level post-secondary program such as a technical or vocational program, you will apply for the 2-Year Category in your final year of secondary school (class 10).

  • This option applies to applicants who plan to obtain a Secondary School Certificate (SSC).

Hungary:

If you are planning on attending a 3-5 year university level post-secondary program where you will graduate with a college degree (Egyetemi vagy Foiskolai Oklevel), you will apply for the 4-Year Category in your final year of secondary school (12th year).

If you are planning on attending a 2-year non-university level post-secondary program, such as a technical or vocational program, where you will graduate with a certificate (Bizonyitvany), you will apply for the 2-Year Category in your final year of secondary school (12th year).

If you are planning on attending a 3-4 year university program where you will graduate with a college degree (“licencjat” or “inżynier”), you will apply for the 4-Year Category in your final year of upper secondary school (12th year).

If you are planning on attending a 2-year (or equivalent) non-university level post-secondary program such as a technical or vocational program (“Dyplom uzyskania tytułu zawodowego”), you will apply for the 2-Year Category in your final year of upper secondary school (12th year).

This includes:
5-year technical school (technikum), or
3-year stage I sectoral vocational school (first level) (branżowa szkoła I stopnia) or
2-year stage II sectoral vocational school (second level) (branżowa szkoła II stopnia).

Please check with your Human Resources Manager or People Leader to retrieve your SSO ID.

Once the employee submits the eligibility form, your child will be sent a link giving them access to IIE’s online application system in order to complete an application online in English or Spanish or to download a PDF application in French, Hungarian, Italian, Polish and Portuguese.

A GE Aerospace Employee must initiate an online application on behalf of his/her dependent by accessing it through the program website, https://myapp.iie.org/register/starawards.

Yes, the following must also be submitted with your online application by the deadline:

  • Your most recent (3-4 years) transcript of grades/academic record provided by the school. If you are unable to submit an official transcript with your application electronically, please upload an unofficial transcript with your online application. Then have your official transcript mailed with a postmark by the deadline.
  • Reference form and letter. An emailed request for a letter of recommendation will be sent to your recommender through the online application system at the time of application. The email will provide directions to the recommender regarding how to upload their reference form and letter to your online application.

*IIE is unable to accept any of the above documents or full application packages via email or fax.

Your required reference can be completed by a teacher, counselor, employer, etc. who is familiar with your academic record and/or work and volunteer experience. Please note that this cannot be completed by a family member. This reference will provide the selection committee with additional information about you when reviewing your application.

As stated above, an emailed request for a letter of recommendation will be sent to your reference through the online application system at the time of application. The email will provide directions to the recommender regarding how to upload their letter to your online application. The reference will be kept strictly confidential.

All reference letters are due on February 25, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

If there is only one official version of the document, we will accept a photocopy bearing an official signature or stamp (for example, a copy of your official transcript with the principal’s signature on the copy). Please upload this document to your online application.

No. IIE is unable to accept faxed or emailed documents.

IIE will send a confirmation e-mail to the valid e-mail address associated with your application.

Please be advised that due to the volume of application submission activity, IIE staff cannot verify receipt of applications and supporting documentation via telephone inquiry. Please reach out to the program team by email at GEAerospace@iie.org

We highly encourage the use of the online application, which is available in both English and Spanish, but we do have PDF versions of the application available in French, Hungarian, Italian, Polish and Portugues.

In order to access PDF versions of the application, a GE Aerospace Employee must initiate an online application on behalf of his/her dependent by accessing it through the program website, https://myapp.iie.org/register/starawards

It is your responsibility to follow up with IIE. IIE is not responsible for any documents lost in the mail. For any questions, please contact GEAerospace@iie.org.

If you are planning on attending a four-year college or university (or equivalent outside the U.S.), you should apply for the 4-year Category award. If you are planning on attending a community college, junior college, or vocational, trade or technical school (or equivalent outside the U.S.), you would apply for the 2-year Category award.

If you are not sure if you will attend a four-year university or a two-year vocational/technical or community college program, you may apply for both categories. However, you must submit separate application packages for each.

If you finalize your decision before April 1st, please notify the Institute of International Education (IIE) immediately. Your application will be withdrawn from the appropriate program category.

Please note, this award is not transferable between categories and may be applied only toward costs of an institution that corresponds to the application category.

If you win an award for one program category, but decide to switch to post-secondary programs, please refer to the question below. What happens if I decide to change post-secondary programs?

Yes, you are eligible as a home-schooled student as long as you are in your final year of your higher/upper secondary education.

The essay portion of the application is an important opportunity for you to provide information about yourself that is not listed in your application, which you feel might be helpful to the reviewing committee.

There is no right or wrong way to write your essay. Each individual approaches this section differently. It is an opportunity to make your application unique and expand upon what you have already listed in the rest of the application.

Awards are intended to help the students meet their first year’s expenses at a four-year college or university (for the 4-Year Category) or a community college or vocational-technical school (for the 2-Year Category) and to use for tuition and mandatory fees to complete your degree program. IIE does not issue tax documents in connection with your award.

After notification, you will be asked to accept the award by submitting your signed Letter of Award. You will submit your proof of enrollment in 2025 at your academic institution as soon as it becomes available to you by the dates requested by IIE. After receipt of the required documentation, IIE will send your award to you directly by wire transfer with the appropriate form.

Please note that because you may not obtain proof of enrollment until the beginning of your first semester, it is possible that you will not receive your award in time for your tuition due date. Upon sending IIE your signed original Letter of Award and proof of enrollment to IIE, please allow up to 6 weeks for processing time to receive your award.

IIE, not GE Aerospace, will distribute your award funds.

IIE distributes payments electronically to participants with U.S. bank accounts via ACH or EFT. Award winners with a U.S. bank account will receive an email from IIE’s bank when award funds are available. Follow the registration instructions and the money will be transferred directly into your bank account.

For award winners who do not have a U.S. bank account, IIE will request that you provide banking information so that a transfer of funds may be made by Wire. Transfers will be made in USD only and you should ensure that your bank accepts payment in USD. Follow the registration instructions and the money will be transferred directly into your bank account.

Awards will not be issued or mailed to your college or university. It is your responsibility to make arrangements with your Financial Aid office as necessary.

Proof of enrollment must demonstrate your firm intent to enroll in classes at your post-secondary education institution. Letters of acceptance and confirmation of deposits paid are not sufficient. You must submit one of the following:

  • An official document provided by your post-secondary education institution that provides your full-time enrollment status for the award year; or,
  • A copy of an official confirmation of registration with the complete semester list of classes for the award year (printouts of online registrations are acceptable).

The proof of enrollment must include your full name, the name of your school, and indicate the semester for which you are enrolled.

If you receive an award for expenses at a two-year college or university and have decided to attend a four-year college instead, you will have to forfeit the award, and it will go to an alternate recipient.

IF YOU DECIDE YOU WILL NOT BE ATTENDING A POST-SECONDARY PROGRAM, YOUR AWARD WILL BE FORFEITED.

Please note that you may apply for both categories; however, you must submit separate application packages for each by the application deadline. If you finalize your decision before April 1st, please notify the Institute of International Education (IIE) immediately. Your application will be withdrawn from the appropriate program category. This award is not transferable between categories and may be applied only toward costs of an institution that corresponds to the application category.

If you decide to defer your post-secondary studies, your award status must be reviewed and formally approved by IIE on an individual basis with the possibility of forfeiture. You may be eligible to receive your award when you enroll in classes, up to one year from your original start date. Please contact IIE at GEAerospace@iie.org for additional information on scholarship deferrals.

If you plan to take a Gap Year between graduation and your post-secondary studies, you MUST apply for the program while still in your final year of higher/upper secondary school. Should you be selected for an award, you would defer acceptance of that award for one year until you are enrolled in post-secondary studies. You are not eligible to apply to the program during your Gap Year after you have graduated from higher/upper secondary school even if you have not yet begun your post-secondary studies.

If your country mandates national military service duty between graduation and your post-secondary studies, you MUST apply for the program while still in your final year of higher/upper secondary school. Should you be selected for an award, you would defer acceptance of that award until you have completed your service and are enrolled in post-secondary studies. You are not eligible to apply to the program during your military service duty after you have graduated from higher/upper secondary school even if you have not yet begun your post-secondary studies.

Because the purpose of the Star Award is to assist in defraying first-year costs associated with university attendance, the award must be claimed within the first year of the student’s enrollment at university.  If you do not enroll in your degree program within this time frame, please contact us at GEAerospace@iie.org to request a deferral of your award.  Approval to defer your award is based on a case-by-case basis and cannot extend beyond 3 years.  If your award is not claimed by the deferral deadline, you risk forfeiture of the award.

Each person’s tax situation is different; please consult with a tax preparer in your country for more information.

For award program-related questions, please contact the administering organization, Institute of International Education (IIE):

GE Aerospace Foundation Star Awards Children of Employees Program
Institute of International Education (IIE)
E-Mail: GEAerospace@iie.org

For award program-related questions in your native language, please contact your Human Resources office. This program is offered at the sole discretion of GE Aerospace Foundation and is not part of employee benefits.

Information provided through this application will only be used for competition purposes and will be treated with utmost confidentiality. All data will be available only to members of the Institute of International Education and the selection panel. Employment information, including GE SSO ID, employee name, and work city, state and country, for finalists will also be made available to GE Aerospace and Aerospace Foundation for eligibility verification and award announcement and celebration purposes. Additionally, applicant finalists’ names, schools, cities, states, and countries will be made available to GE Aerospace and GE Aerospace Foundation for award announcement and celebration purposes. An application package becomes the property of IIE once it is submitted. The application or any parts of the application package will not be returned to the applicant. For more information, please check the IIE Trust Center page.