The 2021 Scholarship Open Season has arrived. The Coast Guard Foundation Scholarship Program and the Coast Guard Exchange Scholarship Program are accepting applications for merit-based, educational awards for Coast Guard children.
The Coast Guard Exchange (CGX) Scholarship Program provides additional financial resources to dependent children of Coast Guard members embarking in undergraduate college studies. This includes eligible dependents of active duty, reserve, retired, current civilian NAF and APF employees, as well as, current Auxiliarists. The annual scholarship of $2,000 is awarded to outstanding applicants on a one-time basis and the number of scholarships granted each year depends on available funding. Application details can be found here; this application’s deadline closes on February 28, 2021. For more information please see the Coast Guard’s Community Services Command Staff Instruction 1780 for the Coast Guard Exchange System Scholarship Program, CSCINST 1780.
The Coast Guard Foundation offers four awards that average $400,000 in scholarships each year. The awards range in amounts between $1,000 to $5,000 per year, and primarily benefit the dependents of enlisted members who are active duty, retired, or deceased. However, there is a scholarship opportunity for children of commissioned officers and another for Aviation Logistic Center Elizabeth City families. The Foundation is accepting applications until March 15 for four scholarships:
- 2021 Coast Guard Foundation Children of Officers and Children of Retired Coast Guard Officers Scholarship - Serves children of active duty, retired, or active reserve Coast Guard officer or chief warrant officers. (Awards are $2500)
- 2021 Coast Guard Foundation Enlisted Member Dependent Scholarship - Serves children of active duty, retired, or active reserve Coast Guard members. Dependents may apply for up to four years. (Awards range between $1,000 to $5,000)
- Fallen Heroes Scholarship - Serves dependent children of Coast Guard members (enlisted and commissioned officers) who lost their lives in land, air, or sea operations. An eligible dependent may apply for this scholarship at any time during the year. (Awards support the recipients throughout their undergraduate careers)
- 2021 CAPT Ernest W. Fox Perpetual Scholarship - Serves dependents (children or spouses) of, and including the active duty Coast Guard, civil service employee personnel at the CG Aviation Logistic Center (ALC). (Awards are $2,000)
Youth applications will be considered based on scholastic promise, motivation, moral character, leadership qualities, and good citizenship, as well as, financial need. Students currently attending undergraduate college programs are eligible to apply, as long as they have the status of a dependent with their sponsor and are under the age of 24 when applying.
“The sacrifices these brave individuals and their families make for our way of life cannot be measured,” said Susan Ludwig, president of the Coast Guard Foundation. “We are proud to continue our support of them and their families through our scholarship program and look forward to seeing what exceptional children will be applying this year.”
For full details on the Coast Guard Foundation scholarships, visit the Coast Guard Foundation’s website or read the Coast Guard Foundation (CGF) Scholarship Program Open Season 2021 ACN 032/ 21. Only online applications are accepted; visit the Coast Guard Foundation’s Scholarship portal site to apply. If you have questions, email Sage Williams, the program manager at the foundation or by calling 860-535-0786. Additionally, applicants may contact the Family Resource Specialist (FRS) at their Health, Safety and Work-Life Regional Practice. Simply dial 1-202-475-5100 and follow the prompts.