The Office of Work Life will begin accepting applications for 2013 scholarships Friday, February 1. Any questions can be directed to the Family Resource Specialist (FRS) on your Regional Practice Work-Life Staff at 1-800-872-4957. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2013.

Over the past 20 years, the Foundation's scholarship program has paid out more than $2.4 million helping 249 people achieve their college aspirations. The Foundation's commitment to educational assistance to the men and women of the Coast Guard and their dependents has grown immensely over the course of its history, and is now one of our primary areas of support, and we hope to expand these endowments for the benefit of additional worthy candidates going forward.

Coast Guard Foundation Scholarship resources for Coast Guard personnel and their families

• Go here to see a list of Coast Guard Foundation Scholarships
• Apply for a Coast Guard Foundation Scholarship Online Now
• See a list of all of the scholars we supported in 2012

Additional resources for Coast Guard personnel and their families

• The Amy Ignatowski Memorial Award at Lake Superior State University for active duty or reservist Coast Guard members and their dependents

Resources for Education Grants for enlisted Coast Guard personnel and their spouses

• Coast Guard personnel looking to apply for education grants for continuing studies should visit the Coast Guard Institute's page for instructions on how to apply. 

The History of Coast Guard Foundation Scholarships

The first-ever scholarship was instituted in 1990 in honor of Coast Guard Reserve Rear Admiral Arnold I. Sobel, a founding officer of the Foundation who wanted to find a way to support the children of enlisted men and women serving in the Coast Guard. The Sobel Scholarship awards $5,000 per year for up to four years of undergraduate studies to a deserving scholar, as long as the student maintains high grades and exhibits good moral character.

2010 Sobel Scholar winner Mackenzie Donahue. Mackenzie studies Biology at Michigan State University.

Following the creation of the Sobel Scholarship, several other generous benefactors have stepped forward to endow educational opportunities for Coast Guard men and women, and their children.

Sixty-four students have been awarded the Sobel Scholarship since its inception. They have gone on to excel in careers of medicine, law and education. The Foundation continued expanding its scholarship efforts by raising funds from golf tournaments across the country to raise money for Coast Guard dependents.

Two recent additions to the Foundation scholarship program are the Commander Ronald Cantin Scholarship and the Commander Daniel J. Christovich Scholarship, both of which also benefit dependents of enlisted personnel. The Cantin scholarship was founded by the commander's brother-in-law, Stephen Wilcox, who started the fund in honor of Commander Cantin's distinguished Coast Guard career.

Commander Christovich's wife, Lisa, who serves on the Foundation's board, endowed the scholarship as a gift to her husband in honor of his retirement from the Coast Guard. The impetus for the Christovich Scholarship has deep roots in the family's interest in education.

One of the most profound ways the Foundation supports Coast Guard dependents in education is through our Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund. This scholarship benefits families of Coast Guard personnel who die in the line of duty. An eligible dependent may apply for this scholarship any time during the year.

This is the first fund established for supporting the higher education needs of families whose loved one makes the ultimate sacrifice. The Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund was established by John and Delinda Statts in memory of John’s parents, Captain Frederick Statts and his wife, Sara.

In addition to these programs, the Foundation also offers education grants to active duty enlisted personnel and their spouses. In 2001, Roy Vander Putten, a Foundation director and former enlisted member of the Coast Guard, created the Vander Putten education grants, which are $500 renewable grants for up to four years to help enlisted Coast Guard members buy textbooks, school supplies, and other necessary materials for their education that aren't covered by Coast Guard tutition assistance.