AFAS Merit and Grit Scholarships

Merit-based achievement scholarship program for high-performing Air Force dependents.

Eligibility:

• Incoming college and university freshmen
• Must have completed the General Henry "Hap" Arnold Education Grant application
• Must have 4.0 cumulative GPA
• Dependent children of active-duty or retired Air Force members
• Spouses of active-duty members
• Surviving spouses of active or retired members

Selection Criteria:

• Cumulative GPA scores
• High school transcripts
• Written essay on specified topic (topics vary by year; examples include: sexual assault/bullying/school shootings, how students recovered from mistakes/challenges/disappointment)

Program Statistics:

• Minimum of 10 scholarships awarded annually
• As of 2020, AFAS has awarded 275 merit scholarships totaling over $1 million
• Approximately 30 scholarships awarded annually in recent years

Geographic Scope: Air Force families worldwide

Organization Contact:

• Air & Space Forces Aid Society
• 1550 Crystal Drive, Suite 809
• Arlington, VA 22202
• Phone: 703-972-2650
• Website: afas.org

Application Process

1. Primary Application: Complete the General Henry "Hap" Arnold Education Grant application first
2. Invitation: Selected applicants with 4.0 GPA will be notified and invited to apply for merit scholarships
3. Merit Application Requirements:
   • Submit written essay on specified topic (essay topic changes annually)
   • Provide cumulative GPA documentation
   • Submit high school transcripts
4. Evaluation Criteria:
   • Cumulative GPA scores
   • High school transcripts
   • Quality and content of written essay
   • Understanding of topic and ability to defend position
5. Submission: Applications submitted through afas.org
6. Timeline: Applications typically submitted during spring semester for upcoming academic year

Note: This is an invitation-only scholarship after initial Arnold Education Grant application.