Army Women’s Foundation Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Army Women’s Foundation

INTRODUCTION
The Army Women’s Foundation (AWF) values education as a pathway to personal, professional, and economic growth. Through the AWF Legacy Scholarship Program, grants are provided to women who have served in the U.S. Army (including the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard), to former soldiers, and to their lineal descendants to support academic advancement. The program awards financial assistance for four educational tracks: Certificate Programs, Community College coursework, Undergraduate Degrees, and Graduate Degrees. Only coursework at accredited institutions qualifies. Awards are determined by a combination of merit, academic potential, the applicant’s personal essay, community involvement, letters of recommendation, and demonstrated financial need.

STEM EMPHASIS
AWF encourages study in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These fields foster critical thinking and drive innovation. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, STEM jobs are expanding at 17% compared with 9.8% growth for other occupations. To help meet workforce demand, AWF includes STEM-focused grants within its scholarship portfolio.

ELIGIBILITY
- Applicant must be a woman who has served or is serving honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, or Army National Guard, or the lineal descendant of such a woman. Any indication that the service was not honorable will disqualify the application. Proof of Army service is required and non-negotiable (examples: DD Form 214, discharge documents, letter from commander).
- Certificate Program: High school diploma with a minimum 2.5 GPA or GED required; applicant must be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited certificate-granting institution.
- Community College: High school diploma with a minimum 2.5 GPA or GED required; applicant must be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited community college.
- Undergraduate: Applicant must be enrolled at or accepted to an accredited college/university and must have completed at least 30 credit hours prior to the application deadline, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Graduate (Master’s or Doctoral): Applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and must be enrolled in or accepted to a graduate-level program.

AWARD PROCESS AND CONDITIONS
- Scholarship recipients are chosen by a Scholarship Committee appointed by the AWF Board of Directors. Each category (certificate, community college, undergraduate, graduate) is reviewed separately. The Committee decides how many awards will be made in each category and the amount of each award.
- Applicants are evaluated in two separate pools: Army women and lineal descendants of Army women. This ensures candidates compete against peers with similar backgrounds.
- Recipients may compete in future years and may receive up to two awards in total, except Graduate Program winners. Graduate recipients are limited to a single AWF graduate scholarship and are not eligible to reapply for another graduate award in subsequent years.
- Scholarship funds may be applied to tuition, required fees, books, and documented school room and board. Funds will be disbursed directly to the accredited institution for documented expenses and must be used during the academic year of the award. The academic year for the award begins with the fall semester following the announcement. Awards cannot reimburse prior expenses.
- Recipients must provide: (a) a photograph and a brief statement for AWF publications, website, social media, and marketing; and (b) follow-up information describing how the scholarship aided their education for AWF reporting and outreach purposes.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINE
All application materials must be submitted and postmarked by January 21, 2026. Follow directions carefully; incomplete or incorrectly prepared submissions may jeopardize consideration.

Required materials:
1. Online Application — must be completed and submitted online. Applicants may apply for only one AWF Legacy Scholarship per year.
2. Proof of military service — commander verification of active duty or acceptable documentation of the sponsor or woman’s service (examples: DD Form 214, discharge documents, active service records). Remove or blot out any Social Security numbers before submission.
3. Official academic transcript(s). New community college applicants must include high school transcripts or GED documentation. If applying for a new school or program, include proof of acceptance/enrollment.
4. Two letters of recommendation on official letterhead that include the recommender’s title and contact information. One letter must be from an academic source (advisor, counselor, dean, professor, etc.). Letters must be addressed to the AWF Legacy Scholarship Committee, dated within six months of the application submission, and written specifically for this application (reusing an older or external letter is not acceptable). Recommenders should be able to speak to the applicant’s academic ability, military connection, community service, or work experience.
5. Essay — a typed, double-spaced essay no longer than two pages answering: “How has Army service—whether through your own experience or that of your family member—shaped your understanding of leadership and responsibility?” The essay must:
- Describe relevant future plans tied to your chosen field of study.
- Provide information useful for evaluating community service, activities, and work experience.
- Specifically explain how the Army has influenced your life and goals.
- Include a header with the applicant’s name and a footer containing: Scholarship type (Undergraduate, Graduate, Certificate Program, or Community College), School name, and Eligibility (Army woman or Child/grandchild of an Army woman).
- Be written specifically for the current application year (reusing a previous essay is not permitted).
A template for the required header and footer is available on the AWF website.
6. If applying for the PCSI Scholarship as a disabled veteran, submit Department of Veterans Affairs documentation showing a disability rating of 50% or greater (e.g., the VA Summary of Benefits Letter).

ADDITIONAL ESSAY GUIDANCE AND NOTES
- The essay is a critical component of your application; it should be well-written, free of spelling or grammatical errors, and clearly convey your voice and qualifications.
- If you are a past AWF recipient, note this in your essay.
- Accomplishments and community service cited in the essay do not have to be limited to the past year; items from the past three years may be included to illustrate qualifications and future plans.
- All documents must be labeled with the applicant’s name and postmarked by January 21, 2026.
- Failure to follow instructions precisely may negatively affect selection.

SUBMISSION ADDRESS
Mail required physical materials to:
USAWF Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 5030
Fort Lee, VA 23801

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Scholarships are awarded only for study at accredited institutions.
- Some awards are named or donor-funded and may have additional specifications; consult AWF materials for details.