Americal Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Americal Legacy Foundation

Intro / Purpose The Americal Scholarship Program, administered by the Americal Legacy Foundation (ALF), provides undergraduate college and vocational scholarships to the children and grandchildren (including adopted children and grandchildren) of current and deceased members of the Americal Division Veterans Association (ADVA). Eligibility also extends to any child or adopted child of a soldier of the Americal Division who was killed or died while serving on active duty with the Division. (The definition of an ADVA member is that found in the ADVA’s current bylaws.) For deceased ADVA members, eligibility requires that the member was in good standing with the ADVA at the time of death. History and Governance The scholarship program was established in 1994 by the ADVA under the leadership of Joe Chin (National Finance Officer), Peter Messina (National Judge Advocate), and Ronald Ward (Scholarship Program Chairman). The initial contribution came from Dr. Robert Muehrcke, a veteran of the 132nd Infantry Regiment. Subsequent program chairs included Bob Short and Ron Green; the current chairman is William Bruinsma. In 2014, ADVA members and the ADVA Executive Council voted at the national reunion business meetings in Houston, TX, to transfer the Americal Scholarship Program to the Americal Legacy Foundation. The ALF Board of Directors now oversees and manages the program. The board has sole authority to approve or deny grant requests and to make recommendations regarding fundraising and disbursement of scholarship funds. Board members serve without compensation and volunteer their time. Program Impact and Funding During the program’s first thirty years, roughly $900,000 was raised and awarded to more than 800 individual recipients. Scholarships are intended for undergraduate study only (graduate study is not eligible). Awards are issued payable directly to the educational institution on the scholar’s behalf. The number of awards and the size of each award vary annually. Individual awards have ranged from $500 to $4,000, with final award amounts determined by the ALF directors. Applications are evaluated by an independent, external committee that reviews submissions blind (without knowing the applicant’s relationship to any ADVA or ALF officer or director). Scoring is based solely on demonstrated eligibility, completeness of the application package, and the quality of the applicant’s essay. The program is funded primarily through donations, grants, gifts, devises, and bequests. All contributions must be unconditional. Major income sources include unsolicited gifts and the ADVA’s annual direct-mail fundraising campaign. Contributions designated for the Americal Scholarship Program are used exclusively for scholarships and related costs and are not diverted to other ADVA or ALF programs. Typical annual administrative expenses (mainly printing and postage) are approximately $2,500. In recent years, annual income from donations has averaged about $30,000, yielding a program efficiency of approximately 90–95%, depending on income in a given year. In the most recent years, combined annual contributions, investment returns, and reserve funds have supported roughly $35,000 per year in awards. Application Rules and Deadlines Completed applications and all required supporting documents must be mailed to the Americal Scholarship Program Chairman at the address he designates and must be postmarked no later than April 30 of each year. Required information on the application form - Applicant’s full name and current mailing address - High school attended and date of high school graduation - Father’s name and occupation; mother’s name and occupation - Sponsoring ADVA member’s name, dates of service with the Americal Division, unit, and highest rank/grade - If the applicant’s parents are deceased, the name and address of the legal guardian - Name and address of the school the applicant plans to attend - Applicant’s signature Mandatory attachments (all must be included) 1. A sponsor’s letter that documents the applicant’s eligibility and the relationship to the ADVA member. If the sponsor is claiming eligibility through a deceased ADVA member, the letter should be written by another family member. The sponsor’s letter should include information about the sponsor’s service in the Americal Division (or 23rd Infantry Division) and the sponsor’s ADVA membership. The Americal Scholarship Program will verify eligibility. 2. A letter of admission from the college or vocational school the applicant intends to attend (undergraduate study only). If this letter has been submitted previously, it may be disregarded for subsequent applications. 3. If the applicant is currently attending or has just graduated from high school, a letter from the high school principal attesting to the applicant’s character. (If the applicant is already in college, this letter is not required.) 4. A photocopy of the applicant’s high school or college transcript. 5. A detailed narrative describing academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community service, and similar accomplishments. 6. A 300–400 word essay by the applicant on the topic specified at the top of the application page (required for applications postmarked on or before April 30 for the current year’s award). Application submission All application materials and enclosures must be mailed via U.S. Postal Service to the Americal Scholarship Program Chairman at the address he specifies and must bear a U.S. Postal Service postmark no later than April 30 of each year.