Junior Member of the Year

The American Legion Auxiliary rewards our Junior members who are actively participating in the ALA’s mission with two national awards: Junior Member of the Year and Rising Star Juniors

The Junior Member of the Year scholarship rewards ALA Junior members who are contributing to the organization and our mission, with a long-term goal of increasing Junior participation.

• One overall national JMOY will win a $5,000 scholarship and an engraved plaque, as well as a trip to the ALA’s National Convention.
• Four division JMOY winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a citation plaque.
  • As a reminder, the ALA divisions are as follows:
    • CENTRAL - Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin
    • EASTERN - Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
    • NORTHWESTERN - Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
    • SOUTHERN - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
    • WESTERN - Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington
• The national and division JMOYs and their chaperones will be authorized to travel to the national Junior meeting in their division.
• The application should be completed by the Junior member applying for Junior Member of the Year.
• Applicant must have been a Junior member at the start of the current ALA administrative year and be between the ages of 14-17.
• Applicant must be a Junior member in good standing of the American Legion Auxiliary.
• Applicant’s narrative should detail the Junior member’s ALA participation and activities during the past year, June 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026. Only activities from the last 12 months will be considered. Document with photographs, screenshots, and other evidence of Junior’s ALA participation and activities.
• Essay questions should be the applicant’s original writing and may be checked for the use of AI. Essays deemed 20% or more written by AI will be disqualified.
• JMOYs will be judged by members of the national ALA Junior Activities Committee.
• All are gift scholarships, not loans.

Junior Member of the Year Award FAQ

1 - $5,000 scholarship is awarded to the national Junior Member of the Year.
4 - $1,000 scholarships are awarded to the remaining division Junior Members of the Year.

1. How does a Junior apply for the scholarship for the Junior Member of the Year award?
   • Juniors must submit their application for the Junior Member of the Year scholarship via the online application form.
2. When is the deadline?
   • The final deadline is June 1. The application form will close at 5 p.m. Eastern. No exceptions will be made. National Headquarters receives the entries and will disperse them for judging.
   • Winners will be announced during the Junior Activities pre-convention committee meetings.
   • The national winner will be contacted in July to coordinate travel arrangements to the National Convention. Notification letters will be mailed in August to the division winners.
   • A list of winners will be posted at www.ALAforVeterans.org along with the other national award winners.
3. Can anyone apply for the Junior Member of the Year scholarship?
   • Juniors must be at least in eighth grade or an eighth-grade equivalent.
4. How is the award judged?
   • The scoring rubric includes points for ALA mission service, serving as an honorary Junior officer, and essay questions.
5. What is the amount awarded?
   • 1 $5,000 winner, plus 4 $1,000 division winners, for a total of $9,000 annually.
6. How long does the student have to use the scholarship?
   • ALA NHQ must receive the Scholarship Certification Form within 12 months of the winner’s graduation from high school. The scholarship money must be used within 24 months of the winner receiving notification.
7. How does a winner claim their scholarship money?
   • A Scholarship Certification Form will be enclosed with the winner’s notification form, which must be completed by the student and their school’s registrar (or an equivalent position if no registrar is available).
   • Once completed, the Scholarship Certification Form should be returned to the Education Program coordinator at NHQ.
   • Funds will then be released in the form of a check to the school.
8. Does the scholarship winner get the money or does the school?
   • The check is paid to the school for tuition and/or room and board.
9. Is the money paid out in one lump sum or installments?
   • The Junior Member of the Year Scholarship is paid in one lump sum, payable after NHQ receives the completed Scholarship Certification Form.
10. Is the scholarship for the Junior Member of the Year award renewable? Can the winner be awarded again?
    • National winners may only be awarded Junior Member of the Year once. Therefore, they may only receive the scholarship once.