Air Force Aid Society grant, scholarship program Published Nov. 3, 2015 HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Air Force Aid Society is now accepting applications for education grants and scholarships. A single online application opens the door to three programs, and Hanscom officials encourage all eligible to apply. The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant, Merit Scholarships and Supplemental loan program are available to Air Force dependent children and spouses. The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant is the centerpiece and gateway to all of the AFAS education programs. It offers need-based grants that range from $500 to $4,000 to dependent children of active, retired and deceased Air Force members. Active duty includes Title 10 Reserve on extended active duty and Title 32 Guard performing full-time active duty. Spouses of active-duty members and surviving spouses of active or retired members are also eligible. All applicants must be a high school graduate enrolled or accepted as a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university during the 2016-2017 academic year, and are required to maintain a minimum 2.0 grade-point average. Merit Scholarships are for incoming college freshmen with top GPA's as verified through the Arnold Education Grant application. They will be contacted directly by AFAS to compete for $5,000 merit-based scholarships. A minimum of 10 scholarships are awarded annually. The Supplemental loan program is available to those students who do not have sufficient financial need to receive the Arnold Grant; however, completing the grant application determines eligibility to secure an interest-free loan. Sponsoring members may request up to $1,000 per eligible student to help reimburse out-of-pocket education expenses. A top student could get them all - up to $4,000, plus a $5,000 scholarship and a $1,000 no-interest loan equaling $8,000 in support of a student's education. Officials from Hanscom's Airman and Family Readiness Center encourage all members of the Hanscom community to apply regardless of rank. "It is very important that senior NCOs and officers at Hanscom Air Force Base not opt out simply because they believe their rank or income disqualifies their children from receiving these grants and scholarships," said Terri O'Keefe, AFRC community readiness consultant. O'Keefe points out that of the 13 grants and scholarships awarded last year to members of the Hanscom community, more than half of those went to senior NCOs and lieutenant colonels and above as they typically are the ones with college-aged children. The program has an average selection rate of more than 70 percent of those eligible. For those with a validated financial need, the Supplemental loan program has an average selection rate of 100 percent to those eligible. The deadline for applications is March 18, 2016; however, O'Keefe encourages students to apply early. For more information on these programs and to access the application, visit the AFAS website at http://www.afas.org/education-grants. (Information courtesy of the Air Force Aid Society)