The Army Women’s Foundation (AWF) is a non-profit organization that supports enlisted women and families. It was founded in 1964 as the Women’s Army Corp Foundation by women who wanted to ensure that the history of women’s service in the Army was told. AWF is dedicated to providing all current and former servicewomen access to programs and services that promote their health, safety, security, and well-being.
The Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship 2023 Program is the culmination of one of the Army Women’s Foundation’s significant goals; to provide financial assistance in support of the education of spouses and children of all Army women, past and present.
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All You Need to Know about the Army Women’s Foundation (AWF)
As earlier stated, the Army Women’s Foundation (AWF) provides educational opportunities for the spouses and daughters of Army servicewomen, past and present. Since its inception, it has provided scholarships, grants, awards, loans, and other financial assistance to thousands of women pursuing higher education.
The foundation began its Legacy Scholarship awards in 2008 to recognize the importance of education and assist recipients in achieving their educational dreams. Since then, the foundation has awarded well over $500,000 to over 230 recipients. It also has a full-ride undergraduate and graduate-level scholarship partnership with Trident University International.
In addition to providing scholarships to military spouses and children, either on active duty or retired, AWF offers financial assistance through its Emergency Assistance Program (EAP). This helps meet urgent needs such as rent/mortgage payments, utility bills, or transportation costs.
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AWF Legacy Scholarship
The Legacy Scholarship Program offers financial support in four areas: Certificate programs, Community College coursework, Undergraduate Degrees, and Graduate Degrees. Scholarships are awarded only for coursework from accredited institutions. Scholarships are based on merit, academic potential, community service, letters of recommendation, and need.
Eligibility
The AWF Legacy Scholarship is awarded to eligible applicants who have completed one year of undergraduate-level study or have been accepted into an accredited graduate program. Graduates must be seeking their first master’s degree or doctorate.
To qualify for this scholarship, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- You must be a woman who has served or is serving honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, or Army National Guard;
- Or the child of a woman who served honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, or Army National Guard;
- Your high school GPA must be at least 2.5 on a 4-point scale or equivalent;
- You must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university.
- The applicant will also need to write a short essay (2 pages or less, typed, double-spaced) highlighting why the applicant should be considered.
- Applicants must also specify how the Army has impacted their life and goals.
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Criteria
If you qualify for this scholarship, you will need these documents: online application form, essay, official transcript(s), two recommendations, and proof of enrollment at a designated accredited academic institution. Also, you will need a commander’s verification of active duty or qualified documentation of the sponsor or woman’s service, such as Dept. of Defense Form DD-214, Discharge Documents, or Active Service Documents.
All application materials must be submitted and postmarked by the deadline date. The online application form is required and must be completed in full before any other materials can be submitted for consideration in this process.
You may apply for only one scholarship, with an exception if extenuating circumstances prevent you from applying for all scholarships you qualify for. Also, applications should not be sent directly from colleges or universities; instead, they should come from students via their acceptance letters with their names printed on them.
What Can I Use My Funds For?
- Tuition and fees: Students may use their funds to pay tuition and other mandatory fees charged by their schools.
- Books and supplies: Students may use their funds for books, software, equipment, or other academic expenses required for enrollment in the program of study at an accredited college or university.
- Room and board: Students may use their funds for housing on campus if provided by the school as a part-time student; otherwise, room/board will be defined by individual schools’ policies regarding financial aid.
- Transportation costs: For example, parking permits or bus passes needed for commuting from home to school daily during the academic year are allowable uses of the AWF Legacy Scholarship funds.
- Other documented expenses related to attending an accredited college or university would not otherwise be paid (e.g., laboratory fees). However, consider using your grant for this purchase, as some items are ineligible under IRS rules governing non-cash educational assistance programs (IRS Publication 970).
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Other Available Scholarships for Women in the Army
For those who wish to pursue a degree, the Army Women’s Foundation provides opportunities for women in uniform aside from its Legacy Scholarships. The scholarships are available to active duty service members, their spouses or dependent children, and former service members who have been honorably discharged.
For military spouses, you may apply for one of the following:
Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) Scholarships – Available for spouses of active duty soldiers/S3-S5 with dependent children under 18 years old
Army Community Service (ACS) Scholarships – Available for spouses of active duty soldiers/S3-S5 with dependent children under 18 years old
1. The “Six Triple Eight” Legacy Scholarship
The “Six Triple Eight” Legacy Scholarship is named in honor of the six Triple Eight Army Women who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, nicknamed the “Six Triple Eight,” was an all-black Women’s Army Corps (WAC) battalion of 855 women deployed during WWII. Their mission was the unenviable but crucial task of sorting and routing millions of pieces of unprocessed mail that the Army could not get to the troops on the front lines.
The basis of the award will be the applicant’s academic achievement and financial need. The AWF board of directors will determine the number of scholarships each year. Also, the board of directors will determine the amount of each scholarship awarded each year. You can use this scholarship to pay for college tuition, fees, books, academic supplies, and transportation to and from school.
Each scholarship category (undergraduate and graduate) will be evaluated and considered separately by the Scholarship Committee, which will also determine the number of scholarships awarded for each category and the amounts of each scholarship.
Eligibility
- You must be a direct descendant of active duty, National Guard, or Army Reserve member who served honorably in the U.S. Army.
- You must have earned a minimum 2.5 GPA on your high school transcript or GED equivalent and be accepted to one of our participating universities or colleges at the time of application.
- The scholarship application and essay must be written exclusively for that year’s AWF Legacy Scholarship Program; previous pieces will not be accepted.
To apply for this scholarship, head to their official website to fill out the form and submit the essential documents.
2. The M.M. Costello Scholarship
The M.M. Costello Scholarship is a $3,000 scholarship awarded annually to one woman who meets the AWF’s stringent eligibility criteria and pursues a major in the healthcare field. Established in 2019, the M.M. Costello Scholarship honors the memory and legacy of the Department of the Army Civilian Nurse, Ms. M. M. Costello.
The scholarship will be awarded annually by The Women’s Memorial Foundation as part of its continuing efforts to honor female veterans, whose sacrifices have helped ensure our nation’s freedom for more than two centuries.
Criteria
The scholarship criteria include the following:
- Must be the spouse or daughter of an Army woman currently on active duty or the spouse or daughter of a retired servicewoman.
- Be a full-time student at an accredited college or university.
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on all previous college coursework attempted at this institution (the final semester before applying) with no grades below “C.”
- Fresh student applicants must provide official high school transcripts, which include graduation date and GPA verification from a high school counselor or principal’s office, along with official SAT scores sent directly from College Board or ACT for non-U.S citizens.
To apply for this scholarship, head to their official application page to fill out the form and submit the essential documents. If closed, you can always check back later.
Conclusion
The Army Women’s Foundation has a lot of scholarships available for women in the Army, retired or their direct descendants. If you want to apply for one of them, go to their website and fill out the application form. Make sure it is complete and accurate because AWF will not accept applications with missing information or errors.
Aside from the foundation’s Legacy scholarship, the AWF also provides other grants such as the “Six Triple Eight” and the M.M. Costello scholarships, which are great avenues for funding your academic dreams. That said, read the guidelines, eligibility requirements, and criteria for each type. This will save you from applying for the wrong scholarship and wasting effort.
