AREA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please read carefully. Missing information or documents may affect your consideration and/or evaluation score.
To qualify, you or one of your parents/stepparents must be an Exchange associate, retiree, or military assigned to the Exchange. If deceased, your parent/stepparent must have been an active Exchange associate, retiree, or military assigned at the time of death.
AREA awards scholarships based only on the information and documents you provide. Financial need is not required, although if applicable you may mention it in your essay. To qualify for this scholarship, you must email the documents listed below to scholarships@aafesretired.org.
Scholarship awards will be sent directly to the school of choice. The applicant must be able to identify a specific school prior to scholarship being awarded, or they will not be considered.
The deadline is 21 March 2025, no later than noon (1200) United States Central Standard Time Zone. Your application will be late if it is not received by the deadline. AREA RESERVES THE RIGHT NOT TO CONSIDER LATE APPLICATIONS.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
1. Completed and signed application form. If additional space is needed to provide any information pertaining to Scholastic Honors, School Activities, or Outside Activities that should be considered, please include it as an attachment.
2. Three (3) letters of reference from teachers, employers, supervisors, or other adults familiar with your high school academic performance, your leadership ability, and participation in school activities, or outside activities. These letters should speak to your leadership attributes, and what sets you apart from others. No letters of reference may come from individuals in your family. If applicable please include any work experience, volunteer service, or leadership roles and responsibilities.
3. An essay, no more than one standard letter page in length, explaining why you should receive a scholarship, your goals and any lessons learned.
4. Copy of high school transcript from latest semester or term completed, including grades.
5. Provide your most recent SAT or ACT score. Minimum scores to qualify for a scholarship are one of the following: an ACT test score of at least 24, or a SAT score of at least 1,200.
6. If SAT/ACT scores are not required by the institution being applied to, please submit this exception information along with your high school grade point average. An average of a 3.33 (B+) on a 4.0 point scale or B+ on a 100-point scale (87-89) is required to qualify.
7. A current portrait style 3 ½ x 5-inch photo of yourself in .jpg format. It will not be returned to you and will be used for publicity should you win a scholarship.
Once eligibility is met, five factors listed below are scored to determine the ranking for scholarship awards.
- Scholastic Honors & Other Recognition Received.
- School Activity Participation.
- Outside Activities, Hobbies and Special Talents.
- Essay: Tell us why you feel you should be awarded a scholarship.
- Letters of Recommendation
HOW TO EMAIL DOCUMENTS:
All documents submitted should have the title of the document in the file name and the applicant’s name. For example, Scholarship Application-John Smith.pdf, or Letter of Recommendation #1 Coach Jones-John Smith.pdf.
1. The application is fillable on-line. Click on the link and download the document. Fill out all information and save as a .pdf. Print, sign, and date (parent signature required if under 18). Scan the document as a .pdf and attach it to the email.
2. Scan all other documents you are submitting and save as .pdfs (photo as small .jpg).
3. Ensure that all attachments are vertical and right side up.
4. Open an email message to scholarships@aafesretired.org and attach each document to the email.
5. Attachments must not be sent utilizing Google drive or other similar manner. All attachments must open directly from the email.
6. Send the email.