WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarship®

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:

November 1, 2025 – Application Opens

January 15, 2026 – Application Closes (no exceptions or extensions)

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