Harold Moon Scholarship

Every year since 2004 the Nebraska IAI has offered a $500 scholarship to one member for attendance to the Annual IAI International Educational Conference.

This scholarship is named for Harold W. Moon. He was hired by the Nebraska State Patrol June 5, 1958 in Columbus, Nebraska. In 1965, he began training in Question Documents. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1977. In April 1973, Moon was appointed as the first Criminalistics Director of the Nebraska State Patrol. Moon designed, equipped and staffed the State Criminalistics Laboratory using at least five other state labs as research and examples to best serve law enforcement and the citizens of the state. Moon was one of the foremost Document Examiners in the Midwest and was instrumental in formulating the Nebraska Chapter of the IAI. When the Nebraska Chapter of the IAI was chartered on June 14, 1985, he served as the first elected president. Moon was chosen as charter honoree of the NEIAI Hall of Fame, created in 1986 to recognize members who have made outstanding achievements in identification or related forensic areas. In 1986 Lt. Moon retired from the Nebraska State Patrol, however remained active in Question Document examination doing private work.

Lt. Harold W. Moon passed away April 14, 1996, but his memory remains with the Harold Moon Scholarship.

The Harold Moon Scholarship is awarded by the Nebraska IAI President to an Active member of the NEIAI. The President takes into consideration: training the individual will be attending and which courses will benefit the most NE IAI members. The requirement of the recipient is to present at the next Nebraska Division of the IAI Annual Educational Conference, passing on the skills and knowledge acquired at the IAI International Educational Conference.

To qualify for the Harold Moon Scholarship you must:

  • Attend the 2024 International Association for Identification Annual Educational Conference

  • Be an Active Member of the Nebraska Division of the IAI

  • Be a Forensics Practitioner (ie. Crime Scene Technician, Forensic Scientist, Officer, etc)

  • Complete an application form and essay stating your personal or departmental training needs

  • Upon your return from the IAI conference, provide a written synopsis to the NEIAI Board regarding training that you received, overall experience, etc.

To be considered for the Harold Moon Scholarship, send your completed application and essay to:

Nebraska IAI
Attn: Harold Moon Scholarship
PO Box 22060
Lincoln, NE 68542

OR Email to:
Mariana.Ward@nebraska.gov

Submissions are due by March 25th, 2024