Though examples of criteria are provided, the units must formulate criteria that work for them.
Provide a designated fund for scholarship monies.
- Set dollar amount for scholarship
- Determine a funding source for the scholarship
- Set criteria for applicants:
- Relationship to a veteran and/or Auxiliary member (child, spouse, widow/widower, grandchild, great-grandchild, etc.)
- Membership in American Legion Auxiliary, The American Legion, Sons of The American Legion
- Residency (applicant must reside in state and/or be a state resident; applicant must be a member of the department American Legion Family)
- Is financial need a criterion (applicant must show financial need to continue higher education), or not?
- Is there a GPA requirement?
- Does the applicant need to be a senior in high school, or can they be a returning student?
- What institution of higher learning does the applicant intend to attend (the school selected needs to be/does not need to be in state; it is an accredited school)?
- Due date for application
- Determine the information needed/wanted on the scholarship application:
- Completed application (name, address, city, state, zip, telephone number, date of birth, membership number, name of veteran through which eligibility is gained, relationship to veteran)
- Essay and criteria/topic/word length, typed and double-spaced
- Signature of the sponsoring American Legion Auxiliary unit president
- Is community service a requirement (receive verification of service)?
- If so, determine the number of hours needed and when they can be performed (during high school career, during last 12 months)
- Verification of the relative’s or applicant’s military service
- Information from a high school applicant:
- Letters of recommendation (from school faculty, administrators, guidance counselor, pastor, community members, not from relatives)
- Education information (cumulative GPA, rank in class, transcript, scores from SAT/PSAT/ACT)
- Information from a college applicant:
- Letters of recommendation (from school faculty, administrators, guidance counselor, pastor, community members, not from relatives)
- Education information (cumulative GPA, transcript of all classes taken to date)
- Judging:
- The judges’ decision is final
- The judges determine the scholarship to be awarded
- Determine judging criteria and rubric prior to judging applications
- How many scholarships may the applicant receive in a year and over a lifetime?
- Scholarships are made on a one-time-only basis (one scholarship in the applicant’s lifetime)
- Scholarships are nonrenewable
- Award scholarship:
- How/when will applicant be notified of scholarship decisions?
- Will scholarship be awarded to student or to the school's financial aid office?
- Will the scholarship be awarded prior to the first college semester, after the first semester, or split between the two semesters?
- Does the scholarship need to be used within a certain period of time?
