While Memorial Day was the official day to recognize the contributions Veterans have made to the society, however any day is a great day to recognize those who place their lives on the line for us each day. So for veterans and their families we have a great load of scholarships for you!

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program

ELIGIBILITY

You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:

• A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
• A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.
• A servicemember missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.
• A servicemember forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
• A servicemember who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability. This change is effective December 23, 2006.

Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Uniformed Services Members of the United States who served in Afghanistan, or contiguous air space as defined in federal regulations, on or after October 24, 2001, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense; or in Iraq, or contiguous waters or air space as defined in federal regulations, on or after March 19, 2003, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense, may apply for a scholarship if they are:
• A veteran who served at least 60 days in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts
• An active duty member of the Armed Forces who served at least 60 days in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts
• A member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Maryland National Guard who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and served at least 60 days, as defined above; or
  • a son, daughter, or spouse of:
  • a veteran or active duty member of the Armed Forces who is serving or has served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts at least 60 days, as defined above; or
  • a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or Maryland National Guard who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and served at least 60 days, as defined above.
  • Applicants must be residents of Maryland, must be accepted for admission or enrolled in a regular undergraduate program at an eligible Maryland institution, or be accepted for admission or enrolled in a 2-year terminal certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit for an accredited baccalaureate program at an eligible Maryland institution. Students must be enrolled as either a full-time (12+ credits per semester) or part-time (6-11 credits per semester) undergraduate student.

AFCEA Educational Foundation Disabled War Veteran Scholarship

ELIGIBILITY:

• Currently enrolled and attending either a two-year or four-year accredited college or university in the United States.
• Students may also be enrolled in an accredited distance-learning or online degree-granting program affiliated with a major, accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the United States.
• Freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior undergraduate students enrolled at the time of application either part time or full time in an eligible degree program as stated below.
• Candidates must be major in the following or C4I-related fields of electrical, aerospace, systems or computer engineering; computer engineering technology; computer network systems; information systems security; computer information systems; information systems management; technology management; electronics engineering technology; computer science; physics; mathematics; or science or mathematics education. Majors directly related to the support of U.S. intelligence or national security enterprises with relevance to the mission of AFCEA will also be eligible.

Imagine being 23 years old and thought of as a war veteran. Imagine coming back to the relatively carefree college life after being truly in the real world, fighting a real war. I suspect veterans have a unique perspective on education and possibilities, maybe that’s why veterans are classified as non-traditional students too.

Well the Aggies at Texas A&M have a couple of sweet scholarships for veterans:

The Honored Service Scholarship is available to Texas Military Veterans who qualify under Chapter 31 as disabled veterans. Twenty-five Aggies will each receive $3,000 for one year.

Eligibility:

• Chapter 31 Disabled Veterans
• Non-competitive Scholarship
• $3000 scholarship for 1 year
• Veteran needs to be registered at Texas A&M University
• No specific GPA needed
• Deadline for Continuing Students is February 1, 2008.
• Deadline for Transfer Students is April 7, 2008.

The Faye Leeth Memorial Endowed Scholarship award is available for those veterans who:

• Currently enrolled students must apply through the Continuing Student Scholarship Application.
• Student must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file.
• Student must have a 2.5 GPA.
• $1000 scholarship for 1 year.
• Deadline for Continuing Students is February 1, 2008.
• Deadline for Transfer Students is April 7, 2008.

Wrapping up our week-long focus on non-traditional students, we’ve got a great scholarship from The Ohio State University.

If you’re interested in becoming a Buckeye and are re-entering the college scene after a few years, the Critical Difference for Women Scholarship could be for you.

According to its Web site, the re-entry scholarships help women who have interrupted their college education at any level for at least two years.

Eligible candidates:

• women who have interrupted their education for a minimum of two years
• women who have a financial need
• women who are enrolled or intend to enroll in a degree program whether it be undergrad, grad, or professional at OSU’s main or regional campuses (note: those who are enrolled half-time or more are given preference)

I know there are some fellas out there who are wondering when they are going to get a break. Stay tuned and I will have the hook-up for the non-traditional male students!

Our week-long focus on non-traditional students continues with a little scholarship link love for ya!

The JRF Foundation Scholarship
Requirements:
-A woman 35 or older
-U.S. citizen
-Enrolled or accepted into an accredited school
-Pursuing a technical or vocational education, an associate’s degree, or a first bachelor’s degree
-Low-income according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Lower Living Standard

According to their Web site, in 2005, the Jeanette Rankin Foundation awarded 65 grants of $2,000 each. The site features stories from scholarship recipients, the history behind the foundation, and important statistics.

What’s really cool is that the scholarship recipients’ stories are inspiring, you-can-do-it types. It really gives you perspective on the obstacles people face when trying to obtain a college education.

Most scholarship searches involve students and their parents. But there are students who aren’t sitting at home with mom and dad scouring scholarships aimed at high school seniors. Non-traditional students don’t fit traditional criteria: ages 18-23 and attending college for the first time. Non-trads are students who have often been out of school and working for some time; they could be married or parents or even attending college after serving in the military.

The number of non-traditional students attending college is on the rise and schools are accommodating them by offering flexible class schedules, including online classes. In the past, there were limited funds available for non-trads. The tide is changing as more businesses, schools, and foundations realize the needs of non-trads. Many of these students have to fund their education while maintaining full-time jobs and childcare, and these students are also more likely to want to participate in workshops and other networking opportunities. All of these situations can create hardships for non-trads and their families.

Non-trads may have to look a little harder and refine their search criteria, but the information is out there.