Navigating the Heroes' Legacy Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide
For military families, access to resources that support educational goals is paramount. The Heroes' Legacy Scholarships program, administered by the Fisher House Foundation, stands as a significant opportunity for dependent children of service members who have died or become disabled through their military service. This article provides a detailed overview of the Heroes' Legacy Scholarships, including eligibility requirements, application procedures, and related programs.
Understanding the Heroes' Legacy Scholarships
The "Heroes' Legacy Scholarships" program honors not only those who have fallen in battle, but all who have died or have become disabled through their active military service since September 11, 2001. Scholarship grants for this special program are underwritten by the author's after tax proceeds from the book "Of Thee I Sing. A Letter to My Daughters" written by President Barack Obama, as well as corporate sponsorships and private donations.
Eligibility Criteria
The program is open to their dependent unmarried children under age 23. To be eligible for the Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship, applicants must meet specific criteria:
- Relationship to Service Member: Be a child with one parent who died while serving on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, in any branch or component of the U. S.
- Disability Requirement: Be a child with one parent who became disabled while serving on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001 (which means the parent qualified to receive traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance), or be a child with one parent who was on active duty on or after Sept.
- Age and Marital Status: The program is open to their dependent unmarried children under age 23.
- Academic Standing: High school applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 basis). College applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
Definition of Disability
A disability is defined as one that results in the service member being eligible for, and receiving, Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) or a permanent and total disability compensation rating of 100%.
Application Process
An application to the Heroes' Legacy Scholarship Program is submitted online.
Read also: Celebrating Young Changemakers
Re-applicants: The letter from Scholarship Managers provides a nine-digit code.
Scholarship Amount and Usage
For the 2026-2027 academic year, 500 scholarships valued at $2,000 each will be awarded. The funds are used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and school room and board either on or off campus.
Fisher House Foundation: A Pillar of Support
Fisher House Foundation provides a "Home Away from Home" near military medical centers for families experiencing a personal medical crisis and is one of the premier quality-of-life organizations supporting military families.
Fisher Houses: Providing Comfort and Support
What are the requirements to stay at a Fisher House? Fisher Houses are given to the military services and Department of Veterans Affairs as a gift, and the commander or director of each medical center where the houses are located are responsible for establishing the eligibility, priorities, and selection criteria. No. Fisher Houses are open to all veterans of all eras. Eligibility varies by location based on criteria established by the medical center, so it is best to reach out to the specific house for more information.
Once an individual house is gifted to the military, it is supported by two sources of funds: (1) from the income generated by a Congressionally approved trust fund maintained by each military service (these funds are referred to as "nonappropriated funds") and (2) from voluntary donations, given by individuals and organizations. The government pays only a portion of the costs.
Read also: Understanding the HEROES Act
Fisher House Foundation pays for the construction costs and furnishings of each Fisher House. The decision where to build is based on need, and Fisher House Foundation board approval. Normally, a need and justification is submitted from the medical center to either the service Surgeon General (Army, Navy, or Air Force) or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Fisher Houses at VA medical centers. The requesting medical center commander or director must demonstrate that the medical center's mission attracts patients from far distances (at least 50 miles) for long periods of time.
Volunteering is done at the local Fisher Houses, and not through the Fisher House Foundation. The manager is in a better position to know what is needed at his or her house.
Hero Miles Program: Reuniting Families
Fisher House Foundation has administered the Hero Miles program since 2005, in accordance with the 2005 Defense Authorization Act. The program is specific in that wounded, injured, and ill service members and their families are eligible. The service member will submit a request through a case worker, social work staff, or service casualty offices.
All tickets are electronic. The passenger will need the record locator and confirmation number along with a government issued photo ID at the airport. Fisher House Foundation does not permit any changes that would result in the Foundation paying a change fee unless the reason is a medical necessity, and beyond the ability of the passenger to anticipate. Generally, Fisher House Foundation does not place limits on the number or frequency of the travel as long as it is reasonable and in the best interest of the wounded, injured or ill service member. Hero Miles was established to reunite families.
Hotels for Heroes: Ensuring Accommodation
Hotels for Heroes provides hotel rooms to the families of wounded, injured, and ill service members who are undergoing treatment at authorized medical centers when a Fisher House is not available. In general, the focus of Hotels for Heroes support is for situations involving significant medical events and emergencies. When the service member or veteran is receiving treatment at a hospital that has a Fisher House on site, and the house has space available, the Hotels for Heroes program is not an option. Hotels for Heroes supports the Fisher Houses by providing lodging to families when a house is full. The family is put on a waiting list by the House manager and hotel lodging is provided until a room at the House becomes available, at which time the family must move into the Fisher House. Hospital case workers and other military liaisons submit requests on behalf of service members who are undergoing treatment at hospitals where there is no Fisher House.
Read also: Understanding the Heroes Fund Scholarship
Scholarships for Military Children Program
The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created in recognition of the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community. The goal of the scholarship program is to award a minimum of one $2,000 scholarship at each commissary location that receives applications from students who meet all of the eligibility requirements.
Eligibility for Scholarships for Military Children Program
Program is open to sons and daughters of active duty, reserve/guard, or retired military commissary customers. Recipient must be enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a four-year undergraduate college or university, accredited in the U. S.
Key Aspects of the Program
- Scholarship Amount: A total of 700 scholarship grants, each for $2,000, will be awarded.
- GPA Requirement: High school applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 basis). College applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
- Merit-Based: This is a merit-based program that does not consider need.
- Scholarship Usage: IRS Publication 970 states that scholarships may be used to pay for qualified expenses, which include tuition, fees, lab fees and books. That said, the scholarship funds are to be used for undergraduate tuition only (and specific course fees that meet IRS standards mentioned above).
Application Process
The entire application and selection process is independently managed by Scholarship Managers (SM), an international, not-for-profit, scholarship service organization. All decisions reached by SM are final. The application must be completed online. We cannot provide blank copies of the application. The application allows you to attach up to three supporting documents (up to ten pages each) to your application.
The preferred course of action is to ask the school if they will put the transcript in a sealed envelope, which can be included with the application (be sure your name is on the envelope). If the school will not agree to this, the student or parent should contact the school guidance department and inform them that schools are required by law to release "unofficial" transcripts to parents (if the child is under the age of 18) or to the student (if the child is 18 or older).
Funding
Funding of the scholarship program is provided by commissary business partners such as manufacturers, suppliers or vendors who normally provide gifts or prizes for patrons through various promotional programs. Those funds instead are being donated to this unified cause through the Fisher House Foundation, program administrator for Scholarships for Military Children.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities for Military Families
Military families have access to a number of scholarship options to help offset some of the out-of-pocket college expenses.
Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program
Fisher House Foundation sponsors a separate scholarship program for military spouses. The program is called the Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program and is administered by the National Military Family Association in partnership with Fisher House Foundation.
The National Military Family Association recognizes the unique challenges today’s military spouses face in pursuing additional training or education. Frequent moves make it difficult to complete programs and establish a career. NMFA awards an average of $500 for career funding and $1,000 for degrees. Up to $2500 is available for clinical supervision towards licensure in the mental health profession. Spouses are also eligible for funding, typically $1,000, to build their own businesses.
Other Scholarship Programs
While the Scholarships for Military Children Program and the Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship are available to military-connected teens from any service branch, there are dozens of additional scholarships available through service-specific departments and other military-affiliated organizations such as American Legion, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Military Youth of the Year, DECA scholarships for emerging leaders, and branch aid organizations like Air Force Aid Society and Army Emergency Relief.
Resources and Support
School liaisons can help with overall college, career and military readiness - including standardized test preparation, test scheduling, and scholarships and financial aid information.
Key Considerations and Advice
Eligibility Verification
Since neither DeCA nor the federal government is administering the scholarship program, anyone who is a qualified ID card holder, enrolled in DEERS and meets the scholarship criteria may apply.
Transcript Submission
Current high school seniors and college students who have not completed their first semester must submit high school transcripts. College students who have completed at least one semester must submit a college transcript (unweighted).
Coordinating Multiple Scholarships
If a student receives other scholarships (e.g. GI-Bill, 9/11 Fry Scholarship or other resources) that when combined fully meet or exceed the cost of tuition, we ask the student to consider declining this scholarship so that it is available for others.
Important Dates
The application period for the 2026-2027 academic year will open on December 10, 2025 and close on February 11, 2026.
Notification of Results
Applicants will be informed whether they were awarded funding or not by the end of August. Due to the volume of applications, non-recipients are not notified.
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