FAIRBORN — The American Legion Auxiliary Dignam-Whitmore Unit 526 is offering scholarships available by the National and Department American Legion Auxiliary organizations.
Children of Warriors National President’s Scholarship – The National Presidents Scholarships are awarded to children of veterans who served in the armed forces during the eligibility dates for the American Legion. One $3,500 scholarship, one $3,000 scholarship and one $2,500 scholarship will be awarded in each division.
Fifteen outstanding students will be awarded a total of $45,00 to further their higher education. However, only one will be selected in Ohio and sent on for judging at the division level. If Ohio’s candidate is not selected, Ohio will award one $500 scholarship to the winning applicant. The applicant must compete 50 hours of community service his or her high school years to be eligible for one of these scholarships.
One scholarship is offered to non-traditional students, each in the amount of $2,000 will be awarded in each administrative year by the national headquarters. Ohio’s winning applicant will be sent on to national judging. One $2,000 scholarship will be awarded in each division of the American Legion Auxiliary. If Ohio’s candidate is not selected, Ohio will award a $500 scholarship to the applicant. Applicant must be a member and shall have paid dues for the two preceding years and for the calendar year in which the application is made.
One junior member in each district from Ohio will be selected and sent on for judging at the division level as part of the Spirit of the Youth category. Winning entries will receive a scholarship valued at $1,250 per year for four years, totalling $5,000. If Ohio’s candidate is not selected, Ohio will award a $500 scholarship to the winning applicant. The applicant must have held membership in the American Legion Auxiliary for the immediate past three years, currently hold membership card and continue to maintain his or her membership throughout the four-year scholarship period.
The American Legion Auxiliary of Ohio will award on Department President’s Scholarship of $1,500 annually. This is a gift scholarship, not a loan. The amount is in payments directly to the college of the winner’s choice. One scholarship of $1,000 is awarded to the second place scholarship applicant. The amount to be paid as requested by the school. The applicant must be an honorably discharged veteran or a son or daughter (adopted, step, grand or great-grand) of a living, deceased or disabled honorably discharged veteran who served during the active war dates.
The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Ohio has established the Ohio American Legion Auxiliary Continuing Education Fund to help meet the needs of upper-classmen, which is the Continuing Education Grant. Fifteen $200 grants are available for the 2016-2017 school year. These grants will be distributed to qualified applicants as applications are received until the funds are depleted for the current year.
The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Ohio, Past Presidents Parley, has a program to assist students pursing a degree in the nursing field, which is the Past Presidents Parley Nurses’ Scholarship. The applicant must be an honorably discharged veteran or a spouse, son or daughter (adopted, step, grand, great-grand) of a living, deceased or disabled honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces during the eligibility dates for American Legion.
Applications for the national scholarships are available online at www. alaforveterans.org. All department auxiliary scholarship applications are available at the Department of Ohio American Legion Auxiliary at P.O. Box 2760, Zanesville, Ohio 43702-2760. Contact local American Legion Auxiliary for more information.
