American Legion Auxiliary scholarships available

[November 23, 2011]  Applications are being accepted for Illinois scholarships sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 263, Department of Illinois, as well as the Children and Youth Scholarship, Nurses Scholarship, and three national scholarships.

Those interested in applying should contact Marlene Schrader, education chairman for American Legion Auxiliary Unit 263 in Lincoln, phone [phone].

Eligible applicants may apply for the following:

• Ada Mucklestone Scholarship -- providing $1,000 scholarships as funds permit.
  Applicants for this scholarship must be children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of veterans who served in the armed forces during eligibility dates for membership in the American Legion. Applicants must be in their senior year or a graduate of an accredited high school, but they may not have attended an institution of higher learning. Applicants must be residents of the state of Illinois.

• Illinois Scholarship for Junior members -- awarding as many $1,000 scholarships as funds permit. Candidates for this award must be Junior members of the American Legion Auxiliary, said Juniors to have held membership in the American Legion Auxiliary for the past three years and must now hold a Junior membership card for the year 2012. Applicants must also be residents of Illinois. Applicants must be in their senior year or a graduate of an accredited high school, but they may not have attended an institution of higher learning.

• Mildred R. Knoles (Opportunity) Scholarship -- awarding as many $1,000 scholarships as fund permit. Candidates for these scholarships must be veterans, children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of veterans who have served during the eligibility dates for membership in the American Legion; are in need of financial assistance to continue their college or university education; and are residents of the state of Illinois.

Scholarships for specialized studies:

• Children and Youth Scholarship -- $1,000 scholarships to college students who specialize in education of physically and mentally handicapped children. Applicants must be in sophomore or junior class in college when applications are made; must be in the upper half of the class and in need of financial assistance; and must be residents of Illinois.

• Past Presidents Parley Nurses Scholarship -- Applicants must be in their senior year of high school or be a graduate of an accredited high school and must be in need of financial assistance to continue their education. Each successful applicant will receive a $1,000 scholarship, which is awarded in July.  Scholarships are awarded only to full-time students enrolled in accredited schools or hospital programs. Applications for the Past Presidents Parley Nurses Scholarship may be obtained from Mrs. Schrader.

The national American Legion Auxiliary has the following scholarships available:

• Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship -- Candidates for this award must be direct descendents, stepchildren or stepgrandchildren of U.S. wartime veterans who served during one or more of the periods of war officially designated as eligibility dates for membership in the American Legion. Applicants must complete 50 hours of community service during their high school years to be eligible for one of these scholarships. There will be one $2,500, one $2,000 and one $1,500 scholarship awarded in each national division.

• Spirit of Youth Scholarship for Junior members -- One Junior member in each national division will receive a four-year scholarship. Applicants must have held membership in the American Legion Auxiliary for the immediate past three years, currently hold a 2012 membership card, and continue to maintain their membership throughout the four-year scholarship period.

• Non-Traditional Student Scholarship -- These scholarships are available for students returning to the classroom after some period of time in which their formal schooling was interrupted. The applicants must be members of the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of the American Legion; dues must have been paid for the two preceding years; and must be current 2012 members. Applicants must have completed at least one year of college and be pursuing an undergraduate degree. One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded in each national division.

The American Legion also has scholarships available. Applicants must be dependents of a living American Legion member or dependents of a deceased member; must be seniors in an accredited high school at the time of application who will graduate in the current school year; and must be citizens of the United States.

Students are also encouraged to check with their schools for a copy of the "Need a Lift?" pamphlet for other educational opportunities through career loans and scholarships. The pamphlet may be obtained online at http://www.needalift.org/.

[Text from file received]