As the Scholarships for Military Children Program enters its 15th year, more than 8,000 students have shared nearly $13 million in scholarships. Applications for the 2015-2016 school-year awards are now available at commissaries worldwide or on the Scholarships for Military Children website.
As one of last year's recipients said, the scholarship will help her fulfill her dream of becoming a surgeon. "Receiving your scholarship makes me more determined to attain high academic standards and accomplish my dream," the student wrote in a letter to the Defense Commissary Agency. "Thank you again for your generosity and believing in me." Starting last year, each award amount rose to $2,000 from the previous $1,500, and the program awards at least one scholarship at each commissary with qualified applicants.
An applicant must be a dependent, unmarried child, younger than 21 – or 23, if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university – of a service member on active duty, Reserve or Guard member, retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty, or survivor of a retiree.
Applications must be turned in to a commissary by close of business Feb. 13, 2015. Packages must be hand-delivered or shipped via U.S. Postal Service or other delivery methods, not emailed or faxed.
Applicants should ensure that they and their sponsor are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database and have a military ID card. The applicant must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2015 or be enrolled in studies designed to transfer to a four-year program.
Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses.
Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps service members and their families, administers the program. Scholarship Managers, a national, non-profit, scholarship management services organization, manages and awards the scholarships.
Commissary partners and the general public donate money to the program; every dollar donated goes directly to funding scholarships. Supporters are recognized at four levels of donations, with Four Star business partners contributing more than $50,000 annually, and One Star donors giving between $2,000 and under $10,000.
For more information, students or sponsors should call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryscholar@scholarshipmanagers.com.
