Non-Traditional Student Scholarship

Non-Traditional Student Scholarship

Getting a job or staying competitive in today’s workplace involves showing employers you have the skills and experience to get the job done. In many cases, returning to college is a must. The American Legion Auxiliary's goal is to do all we can to make that happen, and that’s what the Non-Traditional Student Scholarship is all about. This scholarship helps people who are part of The Legion Family, veterans, and the spouses of active duty servicemembers or veterans pursue a college degree later in life or allow them to pick up where they left off when their studies were interrupted. If you’re at this place in life, this may be the right scholarship for you.

Five scholarships, in the amount of $2,000 each, will be awarded for 2026. All are gift scholarships, not loans.

One scholarship will be awarded in each of the five divisions of the American Legion Auxiliary.

• CENTRAL DIVISION - Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin
• EASTERN DIVISION - Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
• NORTHWESTERN DIVISION - Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
• SOUTHERN DIVISION - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
• WESTERN DIVISION - Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Eligibility and Rules:

• Applicants must be:
  1. A current member in good standing of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, or Sons of The American Legion, must have held membership for the two preceding years (2024 and 2025), and be a paid member for the current (2026) membership year, OR
  2. A veteran who served in the United States Armed Forces and was honorably discharged, OR
  3. The spouse of an active duty servicemember or a veteran who was honorably discharged.
• Applicants must be:
  1. a non-traditional student returning to the classroom after some period in which their formal education was interrupted, OR
  2. a non-traditional student beginning their education at a later point in life.
• Essay answers must have a minimum of 600 characters in length. This requirement ensures that responses are detailed enough to fully address the question given. All essays will be reviewed using AI tools to help ensure originality. These tools assist in identifying potential plagiarism and detecting AI-generated content. Applicants that rely heavily on AI will be disqualified.
• Completed applications are DUE ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern.
• Judging, at all levels, shall be on the following basis:
  • 25% - Academic Achievement
  • 25% - Financial Need
  • 25% - Character/Leadership
  • 25% - Initiative/Goals
• THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES SHALL BE FINAL.

Attachments:

Applicants will need to attach…

• One of the following: a resume OR personal statement outlining their work experience. We understand that traditional employment histories may vary. In lieu of a resume, personal statements offer an opportunity to highlight transferable skills, life experiences, and dedication to personal and professional growth.
• If you are applying as a spouse of a military or veteran, you will need to attach proof of service papers. This can be a copy of veteran's discharge papers or a copy of active-duty service members' most recent set of orders.
• OPTIONAL: Transcripts, or photocopy of the transcripts, of the applicant's most recent grades. This can be high school transcripts if you did not attend college OR college transcripts if you took a break in your college education.

Essay Question for 2026 Application:

As our nation approaches its 250th birthday, how has your membership in the American Legion Family and your family's military history affected your worldview and personal values? How will you honor their sacrifice and commitment as you continue serving and sharing the mission of the American Legion Family?

Disbursement of funds:

The award will be paid directly to the school for the first semester upon notification from the school that the student has registered. American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters must receive certification of enrollment within 12 months of the winning recipient’s notification, or the scholarship will be forfeited. The scholarship must be used within 24 months of the date the winner receives notification from National Headquarters, or the scholarship will be forfeited. Thus, if the winning recipient does not wish to use monies for FIRST-YEAR expenses, they then must be used for SECOND-YEAR expenses or be forfeited.