AFAS grant applications now accepted

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The Air Force Aid Society is now accepting applications for the Gen. Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program for eligible students attending undergraduate degree programs for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Air Force dependents may apply for grants ranging from $500 to $4,000. The specific amount awarded correlates to a student’s level of financial need.

“The Air Force Aid Society has been committed for more than 75 years to helping Airmen and their families realize their academic goals through this education grant program,” said Brandi Ruiz, Airman and Family Readiness Center director.

Eligible dependents include children of active duty, Title 10 Reservists on extended active duty and Title 32 Guard members performing full-time active duty, as well as retired, retired Reserve and deceased Air Force members. Spouses of active duty and Title 10 Reservists and widows/widowers are also eligible.

“All eligible Air Force dependents at Hanscom, regardless of rank, are encouraged to apply at www.afas.org/education-support/,” said Kathleen Vaillancourt, AFRC community readiness consultant. “Rank or income does not disqualify anyone from receiving these grants and scholarships.”

The application process for the Arnold Education Grant serves as the platform for the Air Force Aid Society Merit Scholarship Program and the Air Force Aid Society Supplemental Education Loan Program. Each program provides competitive education grants to eligible Air Force dependents based on financial need.

According to the AFAS website, this program is the “centerpiece of the Society’s education support initiatives, awarding competitive education grants to eligible Air Force dependents based on family financial need.”

Air Force Aid Society Merit Scholarship Program

This program awards 10 or more $5,000 merit scholarships. Each scholarship is available to incoming freshmen who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement based on grade point average. Applicants must also successfully complete both parts of the Arnold Education Grant application.

Students may receive a merit scholarship without receiving a needs-based grant.

Air Force Aid Society officials will contact students directly in May with details on submitting their end-of-year high school transcripts as well as an essay.

Selection notifications will take place in July. Direct disbursement to the college or university will take place in August.

Recipients may only use funds for tuition, fees, books and curriculum-required materials, according to the website.

To learn more about this program, visit https://www.afas.org/how-we-help/afas-merit-scholarship/.

Air Force Aid Society Supplemental Education Loan Program

The Supplemental Education Loan program provides no-interest loans to help Air Force families with incidental college expenses. Sponsoring members may request up to $1,000 per eligible student to help reimburse out-of-pocket education expenses.
Like the merit scholarship program, this program is only available to those who have successfully completed both parts of the Arnold Education Grant application.

To learn more about this program, visit https://www.afas.org/how-we-help/afas-supplemental-education-loan/.

All applicants will receive an email in early June on their selection status. Disbursement will take place in early August.

The application deadline for the Gen. Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program is April 30.

For further information about this program, visit the frequently asked questions located on the AFAS website.

Contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 781-225-2765 for further information locally.