DeCA scholarship deadline approaching

  • Published
  • By Carrie Williams
  • DeCA marketing specialist
FORT LEE, Va. --  You've been preparing your whole life for college, so don't miss the opportunity to apply for a $1,500 scholarship through the Scholarships for Military Children Program. 

Don't delay because applications must be turned in to a commissary by close of business Feb. 18. Applications are available in commissaries worldwide. You may also fill out an application online at the Military Scholar Web site, http://www.militaryscholar.org, but the Web site does not have a "submit" button, so you still must print a copy and drop it off at a commissary. 

You may also fill the application out by hand. At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary location with qualified applicants. 

Since the scholarship program kicked off in 2001, it has distributed more than $6.4 million dollars in scholarships to more than 4,000 of the best and brightest children of military families. 

While the $1,500 scholarship can only be applied to undergraduate studies, the money it saves students and their families can then be applied to postgraduate work. 

Only dependent, unmarried children (under the age 23) of active-duty, Reserve/Guard and retired military members, survivors of service members who died while on active duty or survivors of individuals who died while receiving retired pay from the
military may apply for a scholarship. 

Eligibility is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current ID card. The applicant must be attending or planning to attend an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2009, or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program. 

Be sure to check your materials carefully for simple things like making sure the application is signed and that you are using the 2009 application. 

For details about the program, check out the "Frequently Asked Questions" page on the Military Scholar Web site.