The American Legion Scholarship: Requirements and Opportunities

The American Legion offers a variety of scholarships to support academic achievement, leadership, and military-connected families. These scholarships aim to help eligible students across the nation pursue higher education and achieve their goals. From scholarships for participants in specific American Legion programs to those for children of fallen or disabled veterans, the organization invests in future leaders and promotes education and citizenship.

Overview of American Legion Scholarships

The American Legion provides financial assistance to students through various scholarship programs, each with specific eligibility requirements and award amounts. These scholarships reflect the organization's commitment to supporting youth, education, and the families of those who have served in the military.

Specific Scholarship Programs and Their Requirements

Several scholarship programs are offered by The American Legion, each with unique criteria:

The American Legion Legacy Scholarship

This scholarship is specifically designed for students who are children of veterans who died on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, or who have a disability rating of 50% or greater.

To qualify for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

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Be a high school senior or already accepted to or attending an institution of higher education.
Attend a nonprofit and regionally accredited institution.

Samsung American Legion Scholarship

This scholarship is available to students who participate in Boys State and Girls State programs. The Samsung American Legion Scholarship rewards students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to civic engagement during their time at Boys State or Girls State.

Scholarships for Specific Activities

The American Legion also offers scholarships for students involved in specific activities, including:

Legion Baseball players
National Oratorical Contest finalists
Eagle Scouts
Junior Shooting Sports champions
ANAVICUS scholars

Alabama American Legion Scholarships

The American Legion also offers several $850.00 scholarships throughout the state of Alabama.

Eligibility:

Students must be legal residents of Alabama.
Person applying for scholarship must be a descendant of a veteran that served their country during times of war.
You must be attending a University that we have a scholarship at.

University Scholarship Listing:

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Athens College (1): Resident of Limestone County
Auburn University (2): Resident of Russell, Lee, or Chambers County
Bevill State Comm. College (1): Resident of Alabama
Calhoun Comm. College (1): Resident of Alabama
Chattahoochee Valley State College (2): Resident of Alabama
Jefferson State University (4): Resident of Alabama
Jacksonville State University (2): Resident of Alabama
Alabama Southern Comm. College (1): Resident of Alabama
Shelton State Comm. College (2): Resident of Alabama
Wallace Comm. College-Selma (2): Resident of Alabama
Southern Union Jr.

Non-Traditional Student Scholarship

The American Legion Auxiliary also offers the Non-Traditional Student Scholarship.

Eligibility and Restrictions

SOY scholarship winners are not eligible to receive this scholarship.
There is no volunteer service required.
The FAFSA is no longer required.

Judging Criteria

The scholarship is judged based on the following criteria:

Character/Leadership: 25%
Initiative/Goals: 25%
Financial Need: 25%
Academic Achievement: 25%

Award Details

Amount Awarded: \$2,000 - one per division - for a total of \$10,000 annually.
Timeframe for Use: ALA NHQ must receive the Scholarship Certification Form within 12 months of notification (date on the winner’s letter). The scholarship money must be used within 24 months of the winner receiving notification.

Disbursement of Funds

A Scholarship Certification Form will be enclosed with the winner’s notification form, which must be completed by the student and their school’s registrar (or an equivalent position if no registrar is available).
Once completed, the Scholarship Certification Form should be returned to the Education Program Coordinator at NHQ.
Funds will then be released in the form of a check to the school.

The check is paid to the school for tuition and/or room and board. In some circumstances, a special exception may be made. For example, for a student in the Air Force Academy, which has no tuition or room and board, the check was sent to the US Treasury on the student’s behalf to offset expenses (books, uniforms, etc.).

The Non-Traditional Student Scholarship is paid in one lump sum, payable after NHQ receives the completed Scholarship Certification Form. The Non-Traditional Student Scholarship is not renewable, since one of the requirements is the applicant be returning to or starting school after a period of time.

Application Process

Applications for American Legion scholarships are typically submitted online through the National Headquarters. The process involves completing an application form and providing supporting documents, such as transcripts and essays.

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Submission

Applications are submitted online to National Headquarters. No further action from applicants is needed.

Judging

Scholarship entries are distributed to the department (state) in which the applicant resides for the first round of judging. If the entry is selected by the state, then the entry is judged and certified one last time at the division level. There will be one winner in each of the 5 divisions. These entries are certified winners and receive the scholarship.

Examples of Scholarship Recipients

Many students have benefited from American Legion scholarships, using the funds to pursue their educational goals. For example, Kiernan Pfenning of Waynesville, Ohio, is the son of a Legionnaire. Alexander Diaz of Hilliard, Ohio, is the son of a Legionnaire and participates in Boys Scouts. Reagan Henry of Wilmington, Ohio, is the granddaughter of a Legionnaire. Ian Rotruck of Grove City, Ohio, is the son of a Legionnaire and participates in Boy Scouts. Lauren Esterline of Crestline, Ohio, is the granddaughter of a Legionnaire. Addison McCormick of Englewood, Ohio, is the daughter of a Legionnaire. Carter Wooddell of Sidney, Ohio, is the great grandson of a Legionnaire and is former Americanism and Government participant as well as a member of the Sons of the American Legion. Mary Cunningham of Holland, Ohio, is the daughter of a Legionnaire.

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