MILITARY-FRIENDLY SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship opportunities for service members and their families.

Ceara E. Tapin

THANKSUSA SCHOLARSHIPS

Eligibility requirements: Be a dependent child, age 24 or younger

OR

Be a spouse of U.S. military service personnel

AND

Be a current high school senior or graduate that plans to enroll or a student who is already enrolled in a full time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two, or four-year college/university or at a vocational-technical school for the academic year.

Have at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale or its equivalent on their relevant academic record (e.g., high school record for incoming freshmen or post secondary school record for those already enrolled in a college, university or vocational/technical school).

Spouses enrolled part-time in an undergraduate course of study at an accredited institution are also eligible. Spouses may also use the award for non-degree licensure/certification programs regardless of whether an undergraduate degree has already been completed.

3,400 $10.3 M

2000

Scholarships

Awarded

Awarded in

scholarships

Applications

received annually• ThanksUSA awards approximately 300

scholarships per year, each valued at $3,000.

• ThanksUSA Recipients represent all military branches including, Guard & Reserve.

• Recipients come from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and OCONUS bases locations.

• ThanksUSA gives a preference to spouses and children of the wounded and fallen.

• Kaplan University will offer one full undergraduate scholarship through ThanksUSA for an eligible military spouse.

(1) ThanksUSA defines “active duty” as uniformed service for at least 180 days since September 11, 2001, including those wounded and killed in action. “U.S. military personnel" refers to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Military Reservists, who have been activated to full-time duty, and members of the National Guard who have been federalized and who otherwise meet the requirements, are also eligible.

http://www.thanksusa.org/

Applications accepted April

1st to May 15th

TILLMAN MILITARY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The following candidates may apply to become a Tillman Scholar:

Veteran and active-duty military service members Honorably discharged of pre-and post-9/11 service From all branches of the U.S. Military including National Guard

and Reserve

Current spouses of veterans or active-duty service members, including surviving spouses

Service members or spouses pursuing a degree as a full-time* student: Undergraduate (Bachelor’s or above) Graduate or post-graduate degree At a public or private, U.S.-based accredited institution

Application Deadline: March 31st of each year

On what basis are Tillman Scholars selected?• Educational and career ambitions• Record of military service and/or

community impact as a military spouse• Record of personal achievement• Demonstration of service to others in

the community• Desire to continue to serve others and

make a positive impact on your community

• Leadership potential• Compelling, thoughtful, genuine and

thorough essay question responses

Average Award: $14,000

http://pattillmanfoundation.org

FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS The following candidates may apply: Troopers currently assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division Troopers that are Life members of the 1st Cavalry Division Association ($15/year, or $150 one-time).

The spouse or children of members of the 1st Cavalry Division Association that are currently on active duty and assigned/attached to the 1st Cavalry Division.

BENEFIT

Based on available funds, scholarship grants for tuition, books, and lab fees of up to $1,200.00 per academic year for a period of no more than four years are available. Application deadline June 1st each year.

Scholarship grants can be used during the entire academic year. Awardees must compete each year for follow-on grants.

RULES OF SELECTION

Scholarship grants are awarded based on financial need and merit. If the number of applications exceeds the money available, a board of active duty Command Sergeants Major, serving as members of the Association, will establish an order of merit list from all eligible applicants. When the 1st Cavalry Division is deployed, the Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association Board will consist of three to five retired Command Sergeants Major of the Division that are members of the 1st Cavalry Division Association.

Local Foundation supported primarily by members and previous

recipients.

www.1cda.org

SPORT CLIPS® HELP-A-HERO SCHOLARSHIPS

The following candidates may apply:

Be a citizen of the United States

Be retired, honorably discharged, active duty, or a member of the National Guard or Reserve

Have completed Basic Training and follow-on training (Advanced Individual Training, Technical school, etc.)

Separated with or currently hold a military rank of E-5 or below

Demonstrate a need for financial assistance

Participate in, be accepted to or currently enrolled in a VA-approved program or school at an accredited post-secondary institution

If selected, authorize the VFW and Sport Clips, Inc. to announce and publish award of your scholarship. If awarded a scholarship, the recipient's name, city, state, photograph and essay may be used for promotional purposes by the VFW and Sport Clips, Inc. without further consent from the recipient

Scholarship Details:• Scholarships of up to $5,000 will

be awarded to qualified applicants• Limited to one per family per

semester• Applications for the fall semester

will be accepted January 1 through April 30

• Applications for the spring semester will be accepted August 1 through November 15

• Fall semester scholarships will be awarded in August, and spring semester scholarships will be awarded in January

• Scholarships must be used by the end of the school semester for which the veteran is applying.

Scholarships are restricted for tuition and fees only and will be paid directly to accredited schools

http://www.vfw.org/scholarship/

VETERANS UNITED FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

Award recipient must be: A surviving spouse or surviving child of a fallen active duty service member or fallen Veteran of the United States Armed Forces

Currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university by the spring semester of 2016

Pursuing a trade or professional certificate, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, graduate, post-graduate or doctoral degree

Willing and able to provide a copy of your most recent full FAFSA filing

Comfortable sharing your personal story and aspirations for the future with others on camera

Willing to supply fallen parent or spouse military documents relevant to award criteria

Willing to supply VUF with receipts or invoices related to eligible educational costs as they are incurred in order to receive payment. Eligible costs include tuition, books, fees, school materials, and some aspects of room and board as determined by the Foundation. Payments may be made directly to the school or reimbursed to the award recipient

www.enhancelives.com/scholarships

Three scholarships per

Semester awarded.

Deadline to apply: April 1st

for Fall, October 1st for

Spring

$20,000Award

The Spouse Education Assistance Program is a need-based scholarship program established

to assist spouses of Army Soldiers in obtaining a 4-year undergraduate degree. Scholarship applications are accepted from 2 January to 1 May each year for assistance for the following academic

year.

Applicants must apply each year and may receive assistance for up to four

academic years if they meet the eligibility criteria.

ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF SPOUSE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY:

Student must be a part-time (minimum of 6 credit hours per semester or term) or full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester or term) student working on an undergraduate degree.

Student must be the spouse of an active duty or retired Soldier or the widow(er) of a Soldier who died while on active duty or while retired.

Student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale.

Student must not be a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or other military branch.

Student must be registered in DEERS.

Award varies; average stipend is $2559

www.aerhq.org

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MILITARY CHILDREN

The Scholarships for Military Children Program is now in its 15th year. Through the generosity of

Defense Commissary agency business partners and others, a total of 8,012 students, all sons or daughters of commissary patrons, have shared

$12,526,000 in scholarship grants. They were selected from a pool of nearly 77,000 applicants.

Program is open to sons and daughters of active duty, reserve/guard, or retired military

commissary customers.

Recipient must be enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a four-year undergraduate college or

university, accredited in the U. S. Recipients must have a minimum cumulative grade point average

of 3.0 on a 4.0 basis.

Application window open December-

February each year

≈$2000 Award

http://militaryscholar.org/index.html

US ARMY WOMEN’S FOUNDATION LEGACY SCHOLARSHIPS Applicant must be a woman who has served or is serving honorably in the

U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, Army National Guard or the child of a woman who served honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard.

Community College Legacy Scholarships:Applicant must be a high school graduate with a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) or GED and must be currently enrolled in an accredited community college.---OR---

Certificate Program Legacy Scholarships:Applicant must be a high school graduate with a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) or GED and must be currently enrolled in accredited Certificate granting institution.---OR---

College and University Legacy Scholarships:Applicant must be currently enrolled at an accredited college or university and have completed 30 credit hours of course work and with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.---OR---

Graduate Program Legacy Scholarships:Applicant must have achieved an undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and must be enrolled in or accepted into a Graduate level program — Masters or Doctoral.

All application materials, including online application form, essay, official transcript(s), two recommendations, proof of matriculation at designated accredited academic institution, as well as commander’s verification of active duty or qualified documentation of the sponsor or woman’s service (e.g. Department of Defense Form DD-214) must be submitted and postmarked by January 15, 2016.

Award for community college or certificate

$1000Award for university

or graduate programs$2500

ARMY SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

Eligible applicants must: Be a son or daughter of regular active duty, active duty Reserve, or active duty National Guard U.S. Army members in good standing, OR

Be the of spouse of serving enlisted regular active duty, active duty reserve, or active duty National Guard U.S. Army members in good standing, OR

Be a son or daughter of a former U.S. Army member who received an honorable discharge or medical discharge, or who was killed while serving in the U.S. Army

Be a high school senior, high school graduate, or registered as undergraduate student at an accredited college or post high school vocational/technical institution,

Have a 2.0 grade point average on a 4 point system

Be a U.S. citizen

Not have reached his/her 24th birthday by the application deadline date in the year of application if he/she is the child of an Army member

Not have previously earned a bachelor's degree from a college or university

AVAILABLE ASF SCHOLARSHIPS:

The CPT Jennifer S. Odom Memorial Scholarship

The 1st LT Scott McClean Love Memorial Scholarship

The Hamilton Sundstrand Honorary Scholarship

The KBR Honorary ScholarshipThe BAE Systems Honorary

ScholarshipThe LTG Jack Costello Memorial

ScholarshipThe Fluor Honorary Scholarship

The COL Urey W. Alexander Memorial Scholarship

The Perot Family ScholarshipThe LT Keirn C. Brown Memorial

ScholarshipThe General Dynamics Honorary

Scholarship

$500-$2000 AwardsDeadline to apply: April 1st

each year

http://www.armyscholarshipfoundation.org/scholarships.html