Base organizations fund your future

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman J. Paul Croxon
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
For Airmen, ambitions for higher education are secure through tuition assistance and the Montgomery G.I. Bill. However, for an Airman's children and spouse, finding money for college can be a daunting task.

Fortunately, there are funds available specifically for military spouses and dependents to make those ambitions a reality. Various professional military organizations and volunteer groups set aside funds for that purpose.

The Officer's Spouses' Club, for instance, donates large portions of their volunteer fundraising income to educational scholarships. Many OCS members know first-hand the importance of scholarships.

"I chose to participate in this committee because my father was in the Air Force," said Mrs. Michele Corcoran, OSC member. "I received a scholarship from the [Veterans of Foreign Wars] when I graduated high school, so I know how beneficial the extra money is."

Some of the base-specific scholarships and their eligibility criteria are:

Grand Forks Officer's Spouses' Club Military Dependent Spouses' Scholarship
The Grand Forks Air Force Base Officer's Spouses' Club offers two scholarships. The OSC is planning on giving away more than $12,000 to military dependents through scholarships. The money for the scholarships comes from revenue raised through thrift shop sales. The eligibility criteria are:
- Applicant must be a military spouse planning on attending an accredited institution.
- Reside within 100 miles of Grand Forks AFB.
- Be a dependent spouse of a U.S. military member (enlisted or officer; active duty, retired, Guard or Reserve of any branch of the Department of Defense).
- Be seeking their first undergraduate, associate or bachelor degree or their first technical education certificate.
- Not have been previously awarded a GFAFB OSC scholarship.

Applications can be picked up at the base education and training office and includes a check list, application and statement of intent.

Grand Forks Officer's Spouses' Club Military Dependent Scholarship
The eligibility criteria are:
- Applicant must be a senior in high school (or a senior equivalent) and must plan on attending an accredited higher learning institution during the 2007 - 2008 academic year.
- The military member must reside within 100 miles of Grand Forks AFB.
- Be a dependent spouse of a U.S. military member (enlisted or officer; active duty, retired, Guard or Reserve of any branch of the Department of Defense).
- Have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.9 or greater on a 4.0 scale. 

Grand Forks First Sergeants' Association Scholarship
The first sergeant's scholarship is a one-time, $250 scholarship. To apply, send a two-page essay, double spaced, explaining future goals to a first sergeant by April 20. The recipient will receive the scholarship at a banquet May 11.

The eligibility criteria are:
- Applicant must be a dependent (high school senior or spouse attending college) of an enlisted, active-duty member.

In addition to these local scholarships, military dependents may qualify for funds tailored to military dependents from professional organizations. Here are a few:

Air Force Sergeants' Association Scholarship Program
The AFSA awards up to $2,500 to children of AFSA and auxiliary members. More than 480 scholarships totaling $650,600 have been given in the past 38 years.

For eligibility and to apply, visit the AFSA website at www.afsahq.org.

Air Force Association Spouse Scholarship
The Air Force Spouse Scholarship program is designed to encourage Air Force spouses worldwide to pursue associate, bachelor, graduate or postgraduate degrees.

The eligibility criteria are:
- The applicant must be a spouse of Air Force active duty, Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve to be eligible. Spouses who are themselves Air Force members, or in ROTC, are not eligible.
- Include an original or copy of your most recent college/university transcript or a report card from your last semester verifying your minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher. If submitting a transcript printed on-line, it must include your name.
- Proof of acceptance into a regionally accredited community college or university. This may consist of a short letter on college/university stationery from either the admissions office or the registrar. A class registration payment/receipt stating that you are currently enrolled is also acceptable. You must be attending classes in the current academic year.
- In a two page, double-spaced essay, describe your academic and career goals and the motivation which led you to this decision. Describe how Air Force and other local community activities in which you are involved will enhance your goals.

More information on the scholarship visit www.afa.org/aef/aid/scholars.asp.

These are just a few of the scholarships available family members of Airmen. For more information on scholarships, call the base education center at 747-3316.