American Legion Auxiliary offers scholarship opportunities

[January 18, 2013]  Applications are being accepted for Illinois scholarships sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 263, Department of Illinois, as well as a Children and Youth Scholarship, two nursing scholarships, and three national scholarships.

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

Illinois scholarships for eligible applicants:

• Ada Mucklestone Scholarship -- Providing $1,000 scholarships as funds permit. Applicants for this scholarship shall 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 be a graduate of an accredited high school, but they may not have attended an institution of higher learning. Applicants must be residents of Illinois.

• Illinois Scholarship for Junior members -- Awarding as many $1,000 scholarships as funds permit. Candidates for this award shall be Junior members of the American Legion Auxiliary, with the Juniors to have held membership in the American Legion Auxiliary for the past three years and must now hold Junior membership cards for the year 2013. Applicants must be in their senior year or be a graduate of an accredited high school, but they may not have attended an institution of higher learning. Applicants must also be residents of Illinois.

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

Scholarships for special education:

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

The national American Legion Auxiliary has the following scholarships available:

Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship -- One $2,500, one $2,000 and one $1,500 scholarship will be awarded in each national division. Candidates for this award shall be direct descendants, 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. The applicants must complete 50 hours of community service during their high school years to be eligible for one of these scholarships.

Spirit of Youth Scholarship for Junior members -- One Junior member in each national division will receive a four-year scholarship. The applicants must have held membership in the American Legion Auxiliary for the immediate past three years, currently hold a 2013 membership card, and continue to maintain her membership throughout the four-year scholarship period.

Non-Traditional Student Scholarship -- One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded in each national division. 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 2013 members. The applicants must have completed at least one year of college and be pursuing an undergraduate degree.

Nursing scholarships:

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

• Edna Mae Unfer Scholarship -- This is a $1,000 scholarship. Applicants must be 30 years of age and older. They must be seeking a career in nursing and currently accepted into an accredited nursing program or enrolled in classes required for the nursing program. Any applicant who has preciously received a nurse scholarship from the American Legion Auxiliary may apply again.

Scholarships from the American Legion:

• American Legion Scholarships are also available. Applicants must be a dependent of a living American Legion member or a deceased member. Applicants must be seniors in an accredited high school at the time of application and scheduled to graduate in the current school year. Applicants must be citizens of the United States.

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

[Text from file received from Marlene Schrader, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 263]