Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 637, Otis Berry Memorial Scholarship Endowment Grant

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 637, Otis Berry Memorial Scholarship Endowment supports continuing education for citizens of specific Virginia localities, prioritizing applicants with VFW ties. Established in 2011 to honor Otis Nathaniel Berry, the scholarship emphasizes academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need. Eligible applicants must submit a comprehensive application, including academic transcripts and letters of recommendation. The scholarship aims to foster educational opportunities and honor the legacy of dedicated community service.

Purpose
To promote continuing education by awarding scholarships for any course of study. Applicants must demonstrate academic achievement, extra-curricular involvement, good citizenship, financial need and a commitment to the community through volunteer service. Institutions may include technical colleges, community colleges, and four-year colleges/universities.
Background
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 637 Otis Berry Memorial Scholarship Endowment was established in January, 2011 to honor the memory of Otis Nathaniel Berry. Mr. Berry graduated from Hopewell High School in June 1943 and entered the Navy in July of 1943 where he served aboard the USS Freemont (APA44) in the South Pacific. He was recalled to active duty in January 1952 and served aboard the USS Roberts (de749). Mr. Berry also served the US Army Reserves, 80th Division, retiring in 1983. He was active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 637 and served at the district and state level as State Commander from 1983 to 1984. Mr. Berry served as National Council of Administration Member from 1986 to 1988 and was on many other committees. In 1979, he retired as Safety Director at Ft. Lee, Va. after 32 years of service with the Department of the Army Civil Service. Mr. Berry was an active member of First Baptist Church for 61 years where he served on many committees and was a member of the Singing Saints Choir. The scholarship will honor the legacy of all members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 637 and particularly Mr.
Criteria Scoring
(5 Points) Letters of Recommendation(5 Points) Financial Need(5 Points) Academics(5 Points) Extracurricular Activities(10 Points)Statement & Essay(10 Points)VFW-Post 637 Member (Priority given to a child/grandchild)(5 Points)VFW-Post 637 Auxiliary (Priority given to a child/grandchild
Procedure
The scholarship will be paid directly to the school for current year tuition, fees, books purchased through the institution attended, and on-campus dormitory and meal plan expenses. The scholarship committee will review and evaluate all applications and announce awards each spring. The committee will also review and revise the scholarship policy and criteria as necessary. The application must be submitted online here.Required Documents
All required documents must be uploaded with the application. Any mailed or hand-delivered documents will not be accepted.
Academic Transcript(s) (High School or College whichever applies.)FAFSA Submission Summary (which includes the Student Aid Index (SAI): formally known as Expected Family Contribution (EFC). SAI is an eligibility index number used to determine federal student aid and is generated from the completed FAFSA Application.Two Letters of Recommendation (Current)Post 637 Membership Letter or Card
Failure to submit the online application with all documents attached to the application by the deadline will disqualify an applicant from consideration for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 637, Otis Berry Memorial Scholarship Endowment. The John Randolph Foundation Scholarship Committee reserves the right to interview applicants in the final stages of selection.The decision of the scholarship committee in all matters regarding scholarships is final. Canvassing a scholarship benefactor, any John Randolph Foundation trustee or employee shall result in immediate disqualification. Scholarship awards are subject to the availability of funds, meeting the criteria as outlined in the guidelines of the individual scholarship program and contingent upon acceptance and enrollment in an approved program.John Randolph Foundation respects the privacy of scholarship applicants. Any personal or financial information will be used for the purpose of assessing the scholarship application and will be made available solely to the Foundation’s staff and scholarship selection committee.

Eligibility

This scholarship is available for citizens of Hopewell, Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Prince George County, Dinwiddie County and Chesterfield County. Priority may be given to citizens who are the child or grandchild of a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 637, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 637 Auxiliary. Scholarship Applicants MustAttending or express an interest in attending college as a full-time or part-time undergraduate student (at least 6 hours per semester);High School applicant must have a cumulative G.P.A of 3.0 or higher;Student currently attending a two or four year institution of higher education must be in good standing (a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is considered to be in good standing);Submit a completed John Randolph Foundation Scholarship Application ONLINE to include the required documents which must be uploaded with the application;Exhibit good citizenship (as evidenced by letters of recommendation from three sources);Demonstrate financial need and;Demonstrate commitment to the community through volunteer service