2009/11/03 10:56:00
Alexandria, VA… More than 1,600 students will receive up to $5,500 each in interest- free loans or grants from the Military Officers Association of America’s (MOAA) Scholarship Fund for the 2009-2010 school year. More than 485 of the students will be first-time recipients.
Students can apply online at MOAA’s web site for the loans and grants, which are awarded annually for up to five years of undergraduate study (or until a student graduates). Students under age 24, who are children of former, currently serving, or retired commissioned or warrant officers (Regular, Reserve or Guard) and to children of currently serving or retired enlisted military personnel (Regular, Reserve or Guard), are eligible to apply. Active duty, retired, Reserve, and National Guard officers and warrant officers of the seven uniformed services are eligible for MOAA membership.
If a child served in a Uniformed Service before completing college, however, his or her maximum age for eligibility will be increased by the number of years he or she served, up to five years. Applicants may be graduating high school seniors or full-time college students working toward their first undergraduate degree.
Qualified students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale are considered for selection based on their scholastic ability, potential, participation in extracurricular and community activities, as well as financial need.
“During these tough economic times, our educational assistance programs continue to assisted military families in meeting the challenge of paying for college,” says Laurie Wavering, Program Director of the Educational Assistance Program.
MOAA awarded 14 grants to college seniors who are current loan recipients in the Program, 5 grants to children of deceased retired officers, and at least 50 grants to children whose military parent died in active service. All of the 15 senior grants will be for at least $5,000 each. Also, 864 of those receiving the interest- free loan are Designated Scholars who will receive a $5,000 interest-free loan and a $500 grant.
A Designated Scholarship is a permanent named grant that will continue in perpetuity. Each year both a grant and an interest-free loan are awarded in honor of the loved one, friend, or colleague designated by the donor.
The MOAA Scholarship Fund has given over 10,000 students’ interest-free loans totaling more than $80 million since its inception in 1948.
For MOAA Educational Assistance applications for the 2010-2011 school year, or for more information on making a contribution to the Scholarship Fund, please visit MOAA’s web site at www.MOAA.org/education or email edassist@MOAA.org.
Students may apply online beginning November 2, 2009. The application deadline is 12 noon EST, March 1, 2010.
