WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarship®

Program Status: Active and accepting applications for 2026-2027 academic year

Background: Since the program started in 2017, 5,958 scholarships worth more than $3.5 million have been awarded.

Geographic Scope: United States (national program)

Focus Areas:

• Higher education support for students pursuing undergraduate degrees
• Community volunteerism and leadership
• Patriotism and civic engagement

Award Structure:

• 3 scholarships at $10,000 each
• 4 scholarships at $5,000 each
• Up to 300 scholarships at $1,000 each

Eligibility Requirements:

• Academic Status: Recent high school graduates or current college/accredited trade school students who graduated in 2024, 2025, or 2026
• Academic Plans: Must plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at a 2-year or 4-year accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire 2026-2027 academic year
• Membership: Must be WoodmenLife members in good standing with at least three consecutive years of unlapsed membership
• Family Requirement: All persons in household must be WoodmenLife members in good standing (100% WoodmenLife family)
• Home-schooled students: Eligible if they meet all other requirements
• Prior Recipients: Past WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarship recipients may not reapply

Selection Criteria:

• Perfect grades and test scores are NOT required
• Focus on students who:
  • Make a difference in their community through volunteerism
  • Want to make their community a better place to live
  • Want to pursue a career as a leader in their community
  • Demonstrate academic performance via transcripts and GPA
• Financial need is NOT considered

What Funds Can Be Used For:

• Education-related expenses including tuition, fees, books, housing, meal plans, and supplies required for course work
• How funds are applied is determined by the educational institution

What They Don't Fund:

• Deferred payments (all funds must be used during 2026-2027 academic year)

Application Timeline:

• Mid-April 2026 – Award letters mailed and notifications sent
• Early July 2026 – Scholarship checks mailed

Contact Information:

• Administrator: Scholarship America
• Phone: 507-931-8378
• Email: woodmenlife@scholarshipamerica.org
• Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CST
• WoodmenLife Customer Service: 1-800-225-3108

Important Notes:

• WoodmenLife Extras are not contractual and are subject to change
• Specific eligibility requirements apply, including length of membership and household composition
• Administered by Scholarship America, the nation's largest designer and manager of scholarship programs

How to Apply for WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarship

Step 1: Access the Application

• Go to the WoodmenLife Scholarships page
• Click the "Get Started Now" button
• Enter your quick access code (if you don't have it, contact your local WoodmenLife Representative or call 1-800-225-3108)

Step 2: Create Account

• If you are a new user, you will need to create an account on the Scholarship America website

Step 3: Complete the Online Application
The application includes:

• Short answer questions (no long-form essays required)
• Personal and family information
• Names and WoodmenLife certificate numbers of all family members in household
• High school transcript submission (most current, including student name, grades, and credit hours for each course)
• GPA information
• School selection (if uncertain, enter first choice; school can be updated after selection)

Step 4: Submit

• Application must be submitted by January 15, 2026
• No exceptions or extensions to deadline

Step 5: Password Recovery

• If you forget your password, click "Forgot Password?" on the login page and follow instructions

Required Documents:

• Current high school transcript with student name, grades, and credit hours for each course

Important Information:

• Quick access code required (obtain from local Representative or customer service)
• Certificate number needed (7-10 digit policy identifier found on:
  • Actual certificate/policy
  • Cover sheet of Annual Report (top-right of first page)
  • Premium notice (center of document)
• If accepting an award, must electronically accept by established deadline (notification sent in April)
• Scholarship checks mailed to home address in early July 2026 (payable to educational institution)

Notifications:

• All applicants notified via email in Mid-April 2026
• Recipients receive congratulatory email
• Non-recipients also notified