The Coast Guard Family Organization Spouse Scholarships are awarded to eligible spouses of active duty Coast Guard members.  The purpose is to assist those in financial need to meet the expenses in obtaining their undergraduate degree, graduate degree and/or professional certification. Scholarship amount will vary from $50 to $1,500. On an annually basis, the number of scholarship awardees shall be dependent upon funding. Awardees may utilize scholarship funds for reimbursement of applications, tuition, fees, and school room, board, books, and testing (GRE, GMA, LSAT, etc.). 

Individuals who apply for the scholarship but are not awarded funds are encouraged to apply in the following application year.

ELIGIBILITY

CGFO Scholarship funds are awarded only to valid military ID-carrying spouses of active duty members of the U.S. Coast Guard. The applicant’s spouse must have a minimum of one (1) year of service remaining. Awardees of the scholarship may be required to provide a copy of current military dependant ID to verify eligibility. In the event that your ID was requested, a copy must be submitted to CGFO within five (5) days of the request. Upon verification, CGFO shall notify you of acceptance and then the copy of your ID shall be shredded appropriately to protect your identity. In the even that you do not provide a copy of your ID to verify your eligibility, your awarded may be forfeited. Additionally, if between your time of application for the scholarship and the time any funds are to be distributed your spouse ceases to serve on active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard and/or you are no longer a spouse of an active duty USCG member, you must notify CGFO.  Your cooperation to this end is greatly appreciated in all fairness to other applicants. Awardees who attempt to defraud this scholarship program in any way may be subject to civil complaint in a court of law wherein filing fees attorney’s fees will be sought from the defendant for reimbursement to the program.

If you are notified that you shall be awarded any funds as a part of this scholarship proof may be required to verify that you are enrolled and/or accepted into an accredited professional certification program or in a qualified degree program at an accredited college/university. Each award is a one-time scholarship award. However, if an awardee/applicant continues to experience financial need they can apply for the scholarship in following years. Nonetheless, only an individual can only be awarded one (1) scholarship award in a given year.

Members of the United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security ("DHS"), and also members currently serving under the Department of Defense (DOD) are ineligible for this scholarship program. This particular scholarship is for Coast Guard spouses only not currently serving in any capacity (active, reserve and/or IRR). Member of the Coast Guard and other military branches should contact their education officers for programs open to them such as SOCCOAST, DANTES, tuition assistance, etc.

CGFO Board members, staff and contributors are ineligible for this scholarship program.

The CGFO is committed to equal opportunity for Coast Guard spouses. Applicants will not be discriminated against on the bais of race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.

INFORMATION/CONTACT

The CGFO Board is comprised of individuals located in various parts of the United States; as such there is not just one core office at this time. Any and all communication regarding your application will be conducted via email. Of course, upon being awarded a scholarship, awardees will receive notification via first-class mail. If you wish to contact us concerning the scholarship at any time, you may direct your correspondence to admin@coastguardfamily.org. Please ensure to write “Scholarship” in the subject line.

AWARDS

Applicants will be accepted through midnight on April 30, 2010. Award notification for this scholarship period will be sent via email and/or first-class mail by August 31, 2010. Winners shall be announced online no later than September 30, 2010.