College scholarships are an excellent way to defray education costs without having to repay the funds awarded. Scholarships may be awarded based on the applicant's merit and/or financial need. We have comprised a list of college scholarships available to spouses of Coast Guard service members.
Lisa Cook Reed Spouse Education Scholarship
The Lisa Cook Reed Spouse Education Scholarship program is sponsored by the Coast Guard Foundation. This scholarship has been going on since 2010 and is awarded to non-military spouses of active duty Coast Guard service members.
Spouses who are interested in this scholarship can apply if their husbands are in the E3 through E6 ranking. The spouse must study at an accredited educational institution, either at the national or regional level. The scholarship covers expenses such as fees, transportation, books, and child care costs.
United Services Automobile Association Reserve Scholarship
Spouses of Coast Guard Reservists may qualify for the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Reserve Scholarship. This scholarship is also sponsored by the Coast Guard Foundation.
The USAA award pays for lab fees, books, and technical equipment. The Coast Guard Foundation uses the following criteria to determine scholarship recipients: financial need, degree of motivation, demonstration of good citizenship, moral character, scholastic promise, and leadership skills.
The Mary Paolozzi Member's Scholarship is sponsored by the Navy Wives Clubs of America, Inc. (MWCA). This scholarship is awarded to one member of the organization to help pay for their college education or training costs.
Eligible applicants must be a member of the MWCA for at least one year and must be in good standing. Spouses who are intending to apply for this scholarship opportunity must be able to demonstrate their financial need. In addition, selected recipients must be admitted to an accredited educational institution before they can avail the scholarship benefits.
This scholarship is awarded to two dependent spouses to assist in the continuation of their college education or training. Eligible spouses include Coast Guard dependent spouse of an active duty, retired, or widow of a Coast Guard service member.
Interested applicants must be able to show that they are qualified dependents by ensuring that their application is accompanied by a copy of their military identification card and their previous year's federal tax return. Spouses may only be granted this scholarship if they are accepted in a higher learning institution by May 30 of the year for which they are applying.
Hanscom Air Force Base Spouses' Club Scholarship
The Hanscom Spouses Club is comprised of spouses of military service members and government personnel. Each year, the Club disburses scholarships to qualified spouses of active duty and retired service members of the Air Force, Army, Marines, Coast Guard, and Navy.
Applicants may also be a spouse of a National Guard or Reservist if the service member is active for at least 120 days of the curricular year when the scholarship is awarded. One stipulation of eligibility is that the applicant's sponsor must be residing in the Hanscom Air Force Base or the applicant must live within 60 miles of it. The scholarship is awarded based on merit. This is measured by a demonstration of citizenship, scholarship, leadership, and active participation.
Veterans United Foundation Scholarship
Funded by employee contributions made to the Veterans United Home Loans, the Veterans United Foundation is a public charity that issues scholarships to spouses of service members and Veterans. They award a maximum of 10 one-time only $50,000 scholarships each year.
Surviving spouses of a deceased Veteran or a military service member may apply for this scholarship. The applicant must be in the process of enrolling in an educational institution and pursuing a degree ranging from associates to doctoral level. Interested applicants are required to submit an essay about their life, particularly on the topic of losing their spouse, so it may be helpful for prospective recipients to be comfortable sharing personal information with the Foundation. Any additional stories submitted with their applications describing their community, church, or school activities are also encouraged.
Helping Hand Scholarship
The Helping Hand Scholarship is sponsored by the ThanksUSA scholarship program. The recipient(s) of this award receives up to $4,000 if they enroll at a community college to obtain an associate's degree and $15,000 after completing community college and start pursuing a bachelor's degree.
Although this scholarship can be renewed for three years, the total award amount cannot exceed $38,000. Spouses of military-affiliated personnel are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship is granted to spouses pursuing their first undergraduate degree or any certification program. Lastly, students must be enrolled for at least 6 credits per semester to maintain their scholarship benefits.