Navigating Eligibility for the Anchor Scholarship Foundation
The Anchor Scholarship Foundation provides financial assistance to eligible family members of Surface Navy personnel, but navigating the eligibility requirements can be complex. This article breaks down the criteria, types of scholarships, and application process to help potential applicants understand if they qualify.
Who is Eligible?
The Anchor Scholarship Foundation provides scholarships to eligible family members (children and spouses) of active duty, retired, and honorably discharged Surface Navy personnel. Military Service Members are generally eligible to apply for scholarships. Recipients come from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and represent all military branches including the Guard and Reserves.
To be considered for an Anchor Scholarship, applicants must be either a child or a spouse of a Surface US Navy Sailor (Active Duty, Retired, Honorably Discharged) who meets the eligibility criteria.
- Dependent Child: The Dependent Child applicant may be a high school senior or a college student.
- High School Senior, current College Student, or dependent planning to, or currently pursuing full time, your first Associates, BA or BS at a 2-or-4-year college or university or Industry Certification in the United States.
- Up to the age of 22 on March 1st of the year the scholarship is being awarded.
- Spouse: High School Graduate, current College Student, or planning to pursue your first Associates, BA or BS, or Graduate degree at a 2 or 4 year college or university in the United States, full or part-time.
Permitted Use of Funds
Funds may be used for tuition only at an accredited two (2), or four (4) year or Industry Certification program in the United States for first time Associate's, Bachelor's, Graduate (spouse only) degrees, or Industry Certification (child dependent only). Anchor Scholarships apply only to tuition charged by the program/school/college/university.
Types of Anchor Scholarships
Anchor Scholarships fall under two categories: Foundation Scholarships and Ship’s Company Scholarships. Please review the eligibility criteria for each type of scholarship, then apply for the one that gives you the most options.
Read also: Unlocking Potential: Posse Scholarship
Foundation Scholarships
Will be considered for:
- Foundation Scholarships
- The Raytheon-Zumwalt Scholarship
- The T. Nash Broaddus DECO Scholarship
- The RADM James Prout III Memorial Scholarship (additionally, must reside in the San Diego area)
- The Leidos STEM Scholarship
- The Rolls-Royce STEM Scholarship
- As well as any Ship’s Company scholarships for which the student’s sponsor meets the qualification.
Sponsor Eligibility Criteria
Surface Warfare Qualification (officer/enlisted)
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: 6 years in commands under the administrative control of Commander Naval Surface Forces, US Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVSURFLANT) and/or Commander Naval Surface Forces, US Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFOR). The time requirement is cumulative and assignments need not be consecutive. Navy (Officer or Enlisted) who died while serving on active duty will qualify, regardless of the length of service of the deceased parent/spouse. You will be asked to submit proof of Surface Qualification (SWO or ESWS) and copy of the sponsor’s Report of Casualty (DD Form 1300).
Ship’s Company Scholarships
Will be considered for:
- The USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) Scholarship
- The Arleigh Burke Association Scholarship USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)
- The Arleigh Burke Trust Scholarship USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)
- The USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) Scholarship
- The USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) Scholarship
- The Billy Hurley III Scholarship USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) OR USS Gettysburg (CG 64)
- The Jack H. and Ruby Lucas Scholarship USS Jack H.
Sponsor Eligibility Criteria
Sponsor must have been a member of one, or more, of the below listed ship’s company for a minimum of 1 year. Does not need to have a special qualification(s), i.e. Surface.
Read also: Crafting Perfect Thank You Notes
Selection Criteria
Students are selected on the basis of four equally weighted criteria:
- Academic Proficiency
- Character and All-Around Ability
- Extra-Curricular/Work Activities
- Financial Need
Anchor scholarships are awarded based upon an equal weighting of academic performance, character, extracurricular activities and financial need. Although not a part of the actual selection process, financial need is considered once all financial aid assistance for an applicant has been determined.
Application Process
Anchor Has A TWO PART Application
- STEP I - MARCH 1ST, 11:59 PM EST
- STEP II - APRIL 1ST, 11:59 PM EST
Applications are open NOW! ALL recipients must submit the Anchor Scholarship application to be considered for ANY of these scholarships. Anchor Scholarships must be applied only to tuition charged by the program/college/university. Each scholarship will be split evenly over the full academic year. i.e. Fall and Spring semester
Scholarship Amounts and Renewal
There are dozens of endowed and administered scholarships available, some of them renewable. Award amounts range from $2,500 to $20,000. Each scholarship will be split evenly over the full academic year (i.e.
Read also: Foundation Scholarship Details
Additional Scholarship Opportunities for Military Families
While the Anchor Scholarship Foundation focuses on Surface Navy families, numerous other organizations offer scholarships to military members and their dependents. Here's a look at some of these opportunities:
Scholarships Based on Military Branch or Affiliation
- Air Force Aid Society General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program: Provides grants ranging from $500-$2,000 to eligible Air Force and Space Force dependents each year. Must be dependents of active duty, Title 10 AGR/Reserve, Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty, retired, retired Reserve and deceased Air Force or Space Force members. Spouses of active duty, Title 10 Reservists, Title 32 Guard performing full-time active duty, and widows/widowers are eligible as well.
- Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) Scholarships: For college-level education of members of the AAAA, and the spouses, unmarried siblings, unmarried children and unmarried grandchildren of current and deceased AAAA members.
- Army Emergency Relief: Maj. General James Ursano Scholarship: The Program is for dependent children of Service Members on federal active duty, retired, or deceased while in active or retired status. Army. Learners enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs in nursing or nurse anesthesia may apply. Army.
- Army Scholarship Foundation: Awards one-year financial scholarships (not grants or loans) on an annual basis to qualified and deserving students on the basis of academic record and participation in school and community activities. The amount of award ranges from $500 to $2000 for undergraduate studies at accredited educational/technical institutions. Scholarship recipients may apply to renew their scholarships annually for a total of four years of higher education. Renewal is not automatic but depends on academic performance and continued academic eligibility.
- Army Women’s Foundation Scholarships: The program provides grants to women soldiers, past and present, and their lineal descendants to help them attain their educational goals. The AWF 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. Certificate Programs and Community College coursework scholarships are awarded for $1,000. Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Program scholarships are awarded in the amounts of $2,500 and $3,000.
- Chief Petty Officer Scholarship Fund: For qualified family members of Chief Petty Officers including spouses and children (natural born, adopted or stepchildren).
- Coast Guard Exchange System Scholarship Program: Scholarships to students who are dependents of Coast Guard active duty, reserve, and military retired members, current civilian NAF and APF employees, and current Coast Guard Auxiliarists that meet eligibility requirements.
- Dolphin Scholarship Foundation: Grants are available, on a competitive basis, to high school or college children or stepchildren (unmarried, under age 24 at time of deadline) of: (1) members or former members of the Submarine Force who have qualified in submarines and have served in the Submarine Force for at least eight years; or of (2) Navy members who have served in submarine support activities (e.g., submarine bases, tenders, and rescue vessels) for a minimum of ten years.
- Dr. Sydell Perlmutter Gold Memorial Scholarship (STEM): Scholarship will be awarded to daughters of Air Force members pursuing a bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Education, or Mathematics (STEM) field. Dependents may be of currently serving, retired, or deceased Air Force members. The award will total $20,000 payable in four annual installments of $5,000 each.
- John A. Keller Scholarships - CWOA: The Chief Warrant Officer John A. Keller-CWOA Scholarship is available to dependents of members in good standing of the Chief Warrant Officers Association. You must be a high school senior or a current undergraduate student with a minimum “C” grade average to qualify for this award. You must also be a full-time student to be considered.
- John C. and Blanche Lee Lindsay Memorial Scholarship (STEM): The scholarship was established for children of members of the United States Air Force who are pursuing a college degree. Parent or legal guardian of the applicant must be Active Duty, veteran, or retired service members, reservists, or National Guard members of the United States Air Force. A minimum of one scholarship in the amount of $2,500 will be awarded annually.
- Lt. Col. Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship (STEM): This Scholarship was established for minor dependents of active duty or retired Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Space Force enlisted Airmen and Guardians. It is for students pursuing an undergraduate degree in the area of science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).
- Wings Over America Scholarship Foundation: The Wings Over America Scholarship Foundation is sponsoring over 50 scholarships to further the post secondary education of Navy dependents from the aviation community. Most scholarships are $3,800 and some are renewable. Scholarships can only be used for tuition charged by the college.
Scholarships for Children of Fallen or Disabled Service Members
- America’s Child: Established to provide college education and welfare assistance to the surviving children of military heroes who have already given their lives in patriotic service to our nation’s war against terrorism as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Philippines, Operation Iraqi Freedom or future conflicts.
- American Legion Scholarship: Provides college funding to children of post-9/11 veterans who died on active duty, or those who have a combined VA disability rating of 50% or greater.
- Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation: Providing college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in combat or accidents. Our vision is that every such child can have a debt-free college education.
- DRS Guardian Scholarship Fund: The scholarship is open to any high school or college student who is a son or daughter of a Guardsman killed in an operational or training mission in support of operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom or New Dawn.
- Fallen Heroes Children's Education Fund: This education fund will be used to provide funding for education accounts set-up in the names of the children of Minnesota’s fallen soldiers. Eligible children are those surviving sons and daughters, including step-children, of fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq.
- Folded Flag Scholarship: The Folded Flag Foundation offers scholarships to qualifying spouses of fallen heroes and their children. The College or Technical/Trade School Scholarship is for college-bound spouses and their children (this includes undergraduate degrees, graduate programs and trade/vocational schools), and it covers tuition and fees, books, computers, living expenses (to include child care for students with young children), tutoring, test preparation services and career preparation expenses (internships, resume writing workshops, interview preparation training, etc.).
- Folds of Honor Foundation (FHF): Provides post-secondary educational scholarships to the spouses and children of Service Members disabled or killed as a result of their military service to our great nation. Can be applied to schooling now or held by Folds of Honor on behalf of young children until needed at the time of enrollment.
- Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund: Students are eligible if they are the dependent child of an active-duty Service Member who was killed or permanently disabled (100%) rating as the result of an operational mission or training accident, or who is currently certified as POW or MIA. Applicants may also be the dependent of military personnel who were awarded the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force Cross, or the Coast Guard Cross.
- Gold Star Mission Education Scholarship: The Gold Star Mission seeks to honor and support Gold Star Families by preserving the memory of our Fallen Heroes through service to others. The Gold Star Mission is proud to offer scholarships to ALL who are seeking higher education, whether it be an undergraduate degree, a certificate, or a trades/technical certification.
- Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship: Open to dependent unmarried children under age 23 of active-duty personnel, Reserve/Guard OR those who have died or have become disabled through their active military service on or after September 11, 2001.
- Learners enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs in nursing or nurse anesthesia may apply.
- If your accredited school is less than the scholarship amount you will only receive up to your tuition cost.
- Armed Forces and died as a result of service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 may be eligible to receive the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
- AMVETS Children/Grandchildren Scholarships: This application is specific to graduating high school seniors (child or grandchild) of an Honorably Served Veterans, Active Duty and Guard/Reserves. AMVETS National Service Foundation offers three (3) $4,000 scholarships and one (1) $1,000 scholarship* to deserving graduating high school seniors (child or grandchild) of an Honorably Served Veteran or Active-Duty members.
- Armed Forces Crossroads Scholarships for Military Children: Offered to college-bound military children at installations served by a commissary. military ID card holders to include active-duty members, Reserve and Guard members, and retirees.
- Brown Hudner Navy Scholarship Foundation: The Foundation aims to honor Navy Sailors by providing post-secondary scholarship support to their children. Navy Sailor; have a GPA of at least 2.0 (cumulative and unweighted on a 4.0 scale); have a family adjusted gross income less than the limit based on the annual Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy’s salary; and be planning to pursue a STEM or health science degree and attend an accredited undergraduate college or career training school in the upcoming academic year.
- Fisher House Foundation Scholarship Programs: Open to sons and daughters of active duty, reserve/guard, or retired military commissary customers. Five hundred scholarship grants, each for $2,000, will be awarded for the academic school year.
- Gilman-McCain Scholarship Eligibility & Application: The John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) provides awards of $5,000 for child and spousal dependents of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application. Must be a recipient of any type of Title IV federal financial aid during the time of application or during the time of study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs.
- Huebner Scholarships: For children and grandchildren of former members of the Division as well as children of active-duty 1st Infantry Division Service Members.
- Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association: Helping deserving students reach their educational and professional goals for decades, presenting annual awards of up to $5,000 to individuals pursuing college and graduate degrees.
- Marine Corps League Scholarship Program: Over three hundred scholarship grants are given annually to applicants. Marine Corps. Navy Corpsmen, Chaplains, or Religious Programs Specialists attached to a Marine unit may also qualify. Minimum 2.0 GPA.
Scholarships Based on Field of Study
- military members and dependent children of honorably discharged veterans at ASUS-served locations who are current high school seniors, graduates or current undergraduates planning to continue their education in college or vocational school programs in the fields of environmental science, technology, environmental engineering, biology, chemistry, medical sciences, mathematical sciences, business management or acquisition and contract management.
tags: #Anchor #Scholarship #Foundation #eligibility
