2017
HEROES’ LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
for Children of Fallen or Disabled Service Members
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The “Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship 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. The
program is open to their dependent unmarried children under age 23. The scholarship grants for this
special program are underwritten by corporate and private donations, as well as the author’s after tax
proceeds from the book “Of Thee I Sing: A letter to My Daughters” written by President Barack Obama. The
amount to be awarded each year depends upon the amount of royalties, sponsorships and other donations
designated for this program.
CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY:
Dependent unmarried children under age 23 of active duty personnel, Reserve, Guard, retired military
members, or survivors of deceased military personnel may apply for a Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship if they
meet one of the following criteria:
Their sponsor died while serving on active duty, on or after September 11, 2001 in any branch or
component of the U. S. Armed Forces.
OR
• Their sponsor, while serving on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 became disabled,
meaning that the parent qualified for Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI).
OR
• Their sponsor while serving on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 received a permanent
and total compensation rating of 100% from the Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs.
•
IN ADDITION – ALL APPLICANTS
•
Must submit a copy of DD Form 214 OR DD Form 1300 that shows the dates of service.
•
Must possess a DD Form 1173 (United States Uniformed Services Identification Card). Eligibility,
including survivors of deceased members, will be determined using the DEERS (Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System) database. Applicants can verify if they are enrolled in
DEERS by going to www.dmdc.osd.mil and entering their social security number, date of birth,
and last name or by calling 1-800-538-9552.
•
Must be enrolled, or planning to enroll, in a full-time undergraduate program of studies leading to a
Bachelor’s Degree at an accredited U.S. college or university. High school applicants must have a
minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 basis). College applicants must have a
minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.50. College freshmen must submit a first semester
college transcript.
•
Who are attending a community or junior college must be enrolled in a program of studies designed
to allow them to transfer directly into a four-year program. No scholarships will be awarded to those
pursuing an associate degree as their final degree, second undergraduate, or graduate school
degree.
•
Who receive an appointment to one of the U.S. Military Academies (or affiliated preparatory
schools) or are awarded a full scholarship at any accredited U.S. post-secondary institution of
higher education are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is defined as
one that provides for payment of tuition, books, fees or qualified expenses.
NOT SURE IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE:
Applicants who are not sure whether they qualify should submit their documentation to Fisher House
Foundation. Fisher House Foundation will make determinations on a case by case basis. Send the
documentation via email to [email protected]. Please include “Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship
Program” in the subject line. If no response is provided within one week, please call Fisher House
Foundation at (888) 294-8560 to ensure the email was received.
THE AWARDS:
The Legacy Heroes’ Scholarship Program will award non-renewable (prior-year recipients must re-apply)
$5,000 competitive scholarships. A student may only receive a scholarship for up to 4 years. Exceptions
can be considered if a student is enrolled in an undergraduate program of studies that normally requires
more than 4 years. All exceptions will be handled on an individual basis. Excepting very unusual
circumstances, the awards cannot be deferred for future use, they must be used during the coming
Academic Year.
The awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, religious belief,
national origin, rank or service of the sponsor.
TAX STATUS OF SCHOLARSHIPS:
Scholarship checks issued by Scholarship Managers are made payable to the school the recipients will
attend, not to the student. IRS Publication 970 states that scholarships may be used to pay for qualified
expenses, which include tuition, fees, lab fees and books. Other degree-related costs (like supplies or
equipment required for specific classes) that are purchased from, and paid directly, to the school are also
allowed.
IRS Publication 970 specifically states that tax-free scholarships may not be used to pay for room and
board.
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION:
This program is independently administered by Scholarship Managers (SM), a non-profit scholarship
service organization which has no connection to Fisher House Foundation, the President, the First Lady,
or the Executive Office of the President.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
•
Applicants must provide their permanent home address (not their college address) on the front
page of the application. It is the applicant’s sole responsibility to notify SM of any change of
address.
•
SM will notify recipients and non-recipients by letter on or about June 15, 2017.
•
Scholarship checks are mailed to the recipient made payable to the applicable college on or
about July 15, 2017.
•
SM is solely responsible for the selection of scholarship recipients and its decisions are final.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
•
Call SM at (856) 616-9311 or, Email SM at [email protected]
•
Visit the FAQ’s section of the “Heroes Legacy Scholarships” at militaryscholar.org.
CHECKLIST:
•
I have enclosed the most recent transcript or copy of my grades, preferably
from the fall of 2016, with my application.
•
I have enclosed documents that verify the death, eligibility to receive Traumatic
Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI), or disability of the sponsor.
•
I have enclosed the DD214 or DD1300 that shows the sponsor’s dates of service.
•
I have enclosed my essay with my name on each page.
•
My sponsor or parent/guardian has signed the application.
•
I meet all eligibility criteria for this program OR have requested and received
written approval from the Fisher House Foundation to submit an application
based on special circumstances.
•
I am the dependent child of a living, retired or deceased member of one of the five
armed services (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy) or the Reserves
or National Guard components of one of these services.
•
My high school College Board Code # (if available) is on the application.
•
I have kept a copy of my application and essay.
Please submit the separate 2-page application, along with the essay and transcripts to:
Scholarship Managers
Post Office Box 2550
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
If using FedEx, UPS or DHL you must use the following street address:
Scholarship Managers
307 Provincetown Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
All applications must be postmarked by or have a FEDEX/UPS/DHL stamped shipping date of:
March 17, 2017
SM strongly recommends that applicants visit www.gibill.va.gov. Enter VA Form 22-5490
in the search box for information on all “GI Bill” programs for which they may be eligible.
PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT THIS OR THE PRECEDING 2 PAGES
Please use Adobe Acrobat to fill out this application prior to printing it out.
2017 HEROES’ LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
for Children of Fallen or Disabled Service Members
Applicant Data: Email ________________________________________________________________________________
Ms.
Mr.
First Name _______________________________ MI _____ Last Name ____________________________
Home Street Address __________________________________________________ Home Tel # _________________________
City _________________________________________________________________ State _____ Zip Code _________- _______
Affidavit/Signatures:
We certify that, to the best of our knowledge, all responses are true and factual, and the sponsor or surviving spouse, as
well as the applicant, possess a valid DD Form 2 or DD Form 1173 United States Uniformed Services Identification Card and are enrolled in DEERS.
We also agree that, if the applicant is selected as a recipient, any and all information submitted with this application (including photos when submitted at
a later date) may be used for purposes of news and publicity by the Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship Program, Fisher House Foundation, Scholarship
Managers and all current and future promotions of this program.
Printed name of applicant ___________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of applicant
___________________________________________________________________________________
Printed name of sponsor/spouse/guardian
_____________________________________________________________________
Signature of sponsor/spouse/guardian
_____________________________________________________________________
-
SSN of Sponsor*:
-
*Required to verify eligibility through the Department of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs.
All applicants must include a copy of FORM DD 214 or DD1300 that shows date of service.
Form DD 214:
Date of entry: Mo
Yr
Branch of service ________________________________
Date of separation:
Mo
Rank at time of discharge
E
Yr
O
AND
A copy of a verification letter from one of the following:
The sponsor, while serving on active duty, became disabled, meaning that the sponsor qualified for receipt of Traumatic
Yr
Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) on or after 09/11/2001. Date qualified:
Mo
OR
The Sponsor received a permanent and total compensation rating of 100% from the Department of Defense or
Veterans Affairs on or after 09/11/2001.
Date of disability determination: Mo
Yr
Applicants whose sponsor is DECEASED - who died while serving on active duty, on or after
September 11, 2001 in any branch or component of the U. S. Armed Forces must submit a copy of
FORM DD 1300 or a death certificate from an authorized source.
Form DD 1300: Date of entry: Mo
Yr
Branch of service ________________________________
Date of death:
Mo
Yr
Rank at time of death
E
O
High School Data:
Cumulative, unweighted GPA (on a 4.0 basis) - must be converted from letter or numerical grades.
College Board Code
(Available from guidance office)
Graduation Date: Mo
.
Yr
Name _____________________________________________________________________
Street Address __________________________________________________ Tel # _____________________________________
City ___________________________________________________________ State ________ Zip Code ___________ - _______
Principal’s Name ________________________________________________ Email _____________________________________
College Data: Cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 basis) - must be converted from numerical or letter grades.
.
Please list the undergraduate US college you attend or the colleges/schools where you have applied:
Name ______________________________________ City _____________________________State _____ Zip Code __________
Name ______________________________________ City _____________________________State _____ Zip Code __________
Yr
Major ________________________________ Graduation Date: Mo
Degree: AA
BA
BS
Extracurricular, Community and Volunteer Activities during the last 4 years: If more space is needed for this
and the following section, please duplicate this page – résumés or any other format will not be accepted. Please enter dates in a month
and year (mm/yyyy) format.
from
to
hrs/
from
to
hrs/
Activity/Awards/Offices
mo/yr
mo/yr
week
Activity/Awards/Offices
mo/yr
mo/yr
week
Work Experience, Full or Part-time during the last 4 years: Please enter dates in a month and year (mm/yyyy) format
Position
from
mo/yr
to
mo/yr
hrs/
week
Position
from
mo/yr
to
mo/yr
hrs/
week
Transcript:
All applicants must also submit their most recent transcript or copy of their grades, preferably from the fall of 2016, (unofficial
transcripts are acceptable). College freshman must submit a first semester college transcript. The transcript may be in a sealed and
separate envelope but it must be submitted with this application.
Essay Topic:
If you had the chance to have a 30-minute conversation with any person in human history (either living or
deceased), who would be the person you choose? Why? What topic would you discuss with this person?
The essay must be 500 words or less, typewritten or computer-generated, double spaced, no longer than 2 pages and stapled to this
application. Please place your name in the upper right hand corner of each page of the essay.
Please submit this application, your essay and a transcript or copy of your grades to:
SCHOLARSHIP MANAGERS
POST OFFICE BOX 2550
CHERRY HILL, NJ 08034
POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 17, 2017
This program is independently administered by Scholarship Managers (SM)
(856) 616-9311 | [email protected]