Apply

THE APPLICATION WINDOW IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.

About the Scholarship

The 85 Patriot Fund Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship as supported by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) reported on the Submission Summary (formerly the Student Aid Report – SAR) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) The amount and number of available scholarships are determined based on the total budget allotted and the number of applications received. Funds will be disbursed in one payment term and only up to the unmet need as shown on the student’s statement of account.

Scholarships are for the current academic year only and are sent directly to the school to be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies, and on-campus school room and board (per IRS guidelines, this excludes Greek housing, personal expenses, transportation costs, etc.) Any unapplied funds will be sent back to the 85 Patriot Fund. Recipients are responsible for notifying their school’s Financial Aid Office of their scholarship award so they can count the funds as part of the financial aid package for the academic year. A scholarship verification letter can be requested from the 85 Patriot Fund upon notification of award.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be from a family with a single parent, raised by a single parent, or raised by a parent who recently became a single parent.
  • Applicants must be 23 or under as of April 30th of the current application year.
  • Applicants must be unmarried.
  • Applicants must be enrolled, accepted, or pending acceptance into an undergraduate program of an accredited college or university in the United States.
  • Applicants cannot be a student that has previously completed an undergraduate degree at a Service Academy.
  • If currently enrolled in college, the applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or, if the applicant is/will be a first-year college student, they must currently have or have graduated high school with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0.
  • Applicants cannot already be fully funded by other sources.

How to Apply & Required Documents

Please send all of the following completed forms and required documents as attachments in an email to the85patriotfund@proton.me with the subject line “85 Patriot Fund Scholarship Application – Full Name”. Please also contact the above email with any questions.

  1. Please download and fill out the submission application form found HERE.
  2. Please include a copy of your birth certificate (if step or adoptive, include a copy of a legal document verifying dependent status through a birth parent’s marriage or adoption).
  3. Please include your current year FAFSA Submission Summary (formerly the Student Aid Report – SAR).
  4. Please include your most recent transcript showing a minimum 3.0 Cumulative GPA (an unofficial copy is acceptable).
  5. Please include proof of acceptance into a college or university listed on the National Center for Education Statistic’s College Navigator website. If you have not yet received an acceptance, awarded funds will be held until the acceptance is provided.
  6. Please include your Student Account Statement identifying actual costs and applied financial awards from all sources. If the statement reflects that all costs are fully covered (not counting student loans), then the scholarship will be withheld and awarded to another applicant.
  7. Essay: In a separate Word document of 500-1,500 words, please tell us your story and why you feel you would be a good fit for this scholarship. Below are some questions to think about while writing (although you are free to write your story in any way you choose—feel free to be creative as well!)
  • What are you passionate about?
  • What are your hopes and goals for college and beyond?
  • What types of challenges have you overcome and what have you learned in the process?
  • What’s something you’ve accomplished that you’re proud of?