Women Marines Association Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Women Marines Association

Overview The WMA Scholarship Committee awards multiple scholarships each year. The number and size of awards depend on investment earnings (available funds) and the specific criteria for each scholarship. Every complete application received within the official application window by an eligible applicant will be reviewed. Important dates and general rules - Application period: 1 February – 31 March each year. - Any application or supporting materials postmarked after 31 March will not be considered. - Applicants must reapply each year; awards do not automatically renew. - All applicants must have a sponsor who is a current WMA member in good standing, except Marine Corps JROTC cadets and Young Marines, who have a special eligibility requirement described below under program verification. Eligibility — who may apply To be eligible for review, an applicant must provide documentation showing they meet at least one of the following categories and be sponsored by a WMA member in good standing (with the JROTC/Young Marines exception noted above): a. Personal service: have served or currently serving in the United States Marine Corps or Marine Corps Reserve; OR b. Descendant: be a direct descendant by blood (listed as three generations i.e., child, parent, grandparent, great-grandparent), legal adoptee, or stepchild of a Marine who is currently on active duty or who served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps (Regular or Reserve); OR c. Sibling: be a sibling, legally adopted child, or stepchild of a Marine on active duty or who served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps (Regular or Reserve); OR d. Spouse: be a spouse of a Marine; OR e. JROTC: have completed two (2) years in a Marine Corps JROTC program; OR f. Young Marines: be an active participant in the Young Marines program. Required proof and verification - Proof of military service: If claiming eligibility based on your own military service, submit one of the following: Discharge Certificate, DD-214 (redact SSN), military ID card (front and back), VA verification letter, or a letter on command letterhead from the Commanding Officer or Administrative Officer. - Proof of relationship to a Marine: If eligibility is based on a family relationship, provide documents establishing the relationship such as a Discharge Certificate or DD-214, VA verification letter, marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption papers, dependent military ID (front and back), or a letter on command stationery. Always redact Social Security numbers. - USMC JROTC applicants: A letter from the Senior Military Instructor (SMI) confirming two years of participation must be included. A separate second letter of recommendation is still required. - Young Marines applicants: A letter from the Unit Commander verifying active status in the Young Marines program must be included. A second letter of recommendation is still required. High school applicants - Minimum unweighted GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. - Submit one official transcript: either sent from the high school directly to the Scholarship Chairperson or included in the application package. - Provide a letter of acceptance from the college or institution you plan to attend the following year. If an acceptance letter is not yet available at the application deadline, award decisions will be postponed until the acceptance is received (some institutions issue acceptance letters later in the year). College and graduate applicants - Minimum college GPA: 3.0. - First-year (freshman) applicants must provide: final official high school transcript and a copy of current college transcripts where applicable (see submission options below). - Second-, third-, and fourth-year undergraduates will be evaluated using current official college transcripts. - Master’s and Ph.D. applicants must submit official undergraduate transcripts. - Enrollment requirements: undergraduate and active-duty applicants must be full-time (minimum 12 credit hours) to qualify. Master’s/Ph.D. candidates must enroll in at least six (6) credit hours per semester. Transcript submission and acceptable formats - Official transcripts may be sent directly from the issuing school to the Scholarship Chairperson or included in the application packet in a sealed envelope. - Transcripts delivered via Parchment are accepted as an acceptable substitute for an official transcript; they must be dated no later than 31 March. Schools are encouraged to send transcripts electronically to Scholarship@womenmarines.org. Request transcripts early—do not wait until the deadline. Exceptions and special notes - Note 1: Applicants who have completed their first enlistment or who have been out of the educational pipeline for more than 10 years are not required to submit an official high school transcript or ACT/SAT scores. - Note 2: Parchment transcripts are acceptable if dated no later than 31 March. Electronic submissions to Scholarship@womenmarines.org are encouraged. - Note 3: If you need a WMA member sponsor, notify the Scholarship Chair no later than (NLT) 01 March. Requests received after 01 March may not be accommodated. The Chair will attempt to find a sponsor for you for the current scholarship year only. Application submission process - The application window is strictly 1 February through 31 March. All application forms and supporting documents must be postmarked no later than 31 March to be eligible for consideration. - A complete, new application package must be submitted for each year you apply; prior applications are not carried forward. Incomplete or late submissions will not be reviewed. - Applicants should note that the Committee does not provide confirmation of receipt when application packages arrive. For questions or to submit materials electronically, contact the Scholarship Chair at Scholarship@womenmarines.org.