Scholarship Opportunities for Surviving Family Members

Scholarship opportunities from private organizations

• Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation. The foundation's goal is to ensure that no child of a fallen service member has to pay out-of-pocket or take out loans for to pay for college.
• Kikkoman Scholarship. Established by Kikkoman Foods Foundation Inc. and the Marcos Foundation, this scholarship is specifically for the spouses and children of victims who died in the Sept. 11 Pentagon and Pennsylvania tragedies. The Department of Defense mails scholarship applications annually to eligible survivors, but you can call 571-372-5319 for more information.
• Heroes' Legacy Scholarship. The Fisher House Foundation established this scholarship for the children of service members who have died or become disabled through their active-duty service since Sept. 11, 2001.
• American Legion Legacy Scholarship. This scholarship is for children of military members who have died while on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001.
• The Scholarships for Military Children Program. The Defense Commissary Agency runs this scholarship funded by the manufacturers and suppliers of commissary goods. The organization aims to award at least one scholarship each year for every commissary worldwide that receives qualified applications.
• ThanksUSA Scholarship Program: ThanksUSA offers more than a thousand scholarships for military spouses and children totaling more than $3.5 million.
• Folds of Honor Foundation: This organization's scholarships subsidize a variety of educational costs, including tuition, approved tutoring, school uniforms, schoolbooks, fees, after-school educational programs and approved educational summer camps.
• Special Operations Warrior Foundation: This foundation provides or identifies funding for educational programs for children with a parent who died serving in Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force special operations.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors: TAPS connects survivors of military deaths to available education benefits.

The Department of Defense has links to more scholarships specifically for military children.

Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits

• Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program. If you're a surviving military spouse, you are eligible for educational benefits for up to 20 years after the date of your husband or wife's death. Your children are also eligible to use their educational benefits, but typically only between the ages of 18 and 26.
• Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship. Children or spouses of those who died in the line of duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, are potentially eligible to receive the Fry Scholarship, which can provide up to 36 months of benefits at the 100 percent level.
• Post-9/11 GI Bill. Did your spouse transfer any months of unused post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits before his or her death? If so, you can take advantage of this benefit for up to 15 years after your loved one's death. If unused months were transferred to your child, they can also benefit as long as they have attained a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate) or are at least 18 years of age.

Service-specific scholarships and aid

Each military service and related organization offer financial assistance to family members in need and many have scholarship options. Check out your particular branch of service for more information.

• Army Emergency Relief
• Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
• Air Force Aid Society
• Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

Your loved one served bravely and, while nothing can take their place in your heart, pursuing your educational dreams is just one small way to honor their legacy.