A N N O U N C E M E N T SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA CHAPTER, MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (SVC, MOAA) ROPER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ACADEMIC YEAR 2016-2017 $1,000 Southside Virginia Chapter (SVC), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) will be competitively offering $1,000 tuition scholarships. Details and procedures are available in your school Guidance Counselor s Office, or contact Mike Wellman, Scholarship Chair, at 804-778-4843 or mikewellman@verizon.net
SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA CHAPTER (SVC) Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) 2016 2017 ROPER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Overview & Information Page 1 of 3 PURPOSE: Southside Virginia Chapter, Military Officers Association of America, announces the availability of Roper Memorial Scholarships to qualified applicants for the 2016-2017 academic year. BACKGROUND: The Roper Memorial Scholarships were made possible by the generous bequest of Mrs. Caroline T. Roper to the Southside Virginia Chapter, MOAA, in 1986. The bequest of Mrs. Roper was to honor the sacrifice, courage, and dedication demonstrated by members of the Armed Forces of the United States. The Chapter established the Roper Memorial Scholarship Program to perpetuate the memory of Mrs. Roper and her family for high school seniors having a direct relationship with a military service member. SPONSOR: Student eligibility for the Roper Memorial Scholarship is derived based upon eligibility criteria listed below that defines the direct relationship required for sponsorship. High School seniors enrolled in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) who do not qualify under the relationship criteria detailed below may be sponsored by the JROTC Senior Advisor or High School principal. A student selected under this provision must enroll at an institution having a Senior ROTC program and enroll in the program. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY: Applications for the Roper Memorial Scholarship Grants will be considered for children, stepchildren, and grandchildren who reside in the Fort Lee - Southside Virginia area or live outside the designated area, but the sponsor resides in the designated area. An exception is given if neither an applicant nor sponsor reside in the designated area, but the sponsor is a member in good standing of the Southside Virginia Chapter, MOAA. An applicant s sponsor can be: An active duty military member of any military service component. An auxiliary member (See footnote below) of the SVC, MOAA. A retired or deceased military service member. (a veteran who did not retire does not qualify) A Senior Military Advisor or High School Principal for a high school senior enrolled in JROTC without regard to the other relationships stipulated above. Applicants under these qualification criteria will be on a competitive basis with other JROTC applicants. FOOTNOTE: Auxiliary member is the spouse of a deceased military member who, if living, would be eligible for membership and pays dues or makes donations in lieu of dues. APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS: A graduating high school senior who will enroll during the Fall semester of the upcoming academic year as a full-time student (as defined by the college) in an undergraduate collegiate program at an eligible institution. An eligible institution is defined as any educational institution eligible to participate in a student financial aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. (Refer to U.S. Dept. of Education FAFSA Web site.) Exceptions may be granted for a graduating senior who will not enroll until the second half of the previously mentioned academic year. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMS: Roper Memorial Scholarship application forms and instructions are available at high school counselor s offices. Additionally, scholarship applications are available at the Army Community Service (ACS) Office at Fort Lee, Virginia or by contacting the Scholarship Chairman, Mike Wellman, at 804-778-4843 or email: mikewellman@verizon.net. APPLICATION SUBMITTAL: Applications, along with associated documentation (see application instructions) must be mailed (not hand carried) and post marked not later than Wednesday, March 1, 2017 to: Col Mike Wellman, USAF (Ret), Roper Memorial Scholarship Chair, 12119 Whitley Manor Dr., Chesterfield, VA 23838. Late submissions will not be considered.
SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA CHAPTER (SVC) Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) 2016 2017 ROPER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Application Instructions Page 2 of 3 GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1. Applicant must be a high school senior who will graduate in spring/summer 2017 and shall begin their collegiate-level education by enrolling in the Fall semester of the upcoming academic year. Exceptions may be granted for seniors not enrolling until the second half of the collegiate academic year. The scholarship recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student (as defined by the college) to receive the scholarship grant. 2. Scholarship grants are to be used solely to offset tuition expense. Scholarship grants are intended to supplement other funding sources available to the applicant. The amount to be awarded is determined annually by the SVC, MOAA. Scholarships for 2016-2017 high school academic year will be at least $1,000 in value. 3. Recipients of a Roper Memorial Scholarship who accept a full or all expenses scholarship from another source, or enroll in or transfer to an institution other than to the institution to which the scholarship was initially awarded must relinquish all unexpended funds of the scholarship grant back to SVC, MOAA. 4. Applications must include a copy of SAT and/or ACT test results, official transcript of all high school grades to include the first semester of the 2016/17 school year, grade point average (GPA), class standing, achievements and activities list, and essay. 5. The scholarship application must be typewritten or handwritten (black ink) using the forms appended to these instructions. No photo-copied applications will be accepted. 6. Pictures of the applicant and/or references to applicant s identity in any way other than on the application form are prohibited and will void the application from any consideration. 7. Junior ROTC high school senior applicants must include a statement from the JROTC Senior Military Advisor or High School principal confirming that the applicant is a JROTC program student worthy of consideration for a Roper Memorial Scholarship, and has been accepted to a Senior ROTC program during their upcoming freshman year of college. APPLICATION FORM: The applicant must complete the application form in its entirety. Within the sponsor portion of the form, list the name, title (military rank), and military service of the individual from which scholarship eligibility is derived (see Applicant Eligibility on page 1). If the sponsor is deceased please indicate, Deceased. If a Junior ROTC applicant does not qualify under the eligibility criteria, enter the name and title of the sponsoring Senior Military Advisor or High School principal. The US. Coast Guard is considered a military service. ESSAY REQUIREMENT: Each applicant must submit an essay limited to a single-sided typed page (8 1/2 x 11 inch white bond paper). The essay shall be double-spaced using a Times New Roman #12 font with paragraphs indented.5 inches. Note paragraph 6 above. ESSAY TOPIC: "What has been the best decision you ever made and why? This essay topic will weigh heavily in the evaluation so please give it a lot of thought.
Page 3 of 3 Caution Essay Significance: Your essay is a major segment of your application that evaluators shall use to judge your worthiness for a Roper Memorial Scholarship. The evaluation criteria shall include essay content, originality, reasoning, rational comprehension, and proper use of English composition. ACHIEVEMENTS and ACTIVITIES LIST: List your scholastic achievements/honors and activities both at school and outside school from 9 th through 12 th grade. Examples of scholastic achievement could include National Honor Society, other honor societies such as Spanish, science or math (Alpha Theta Society), Quill & Scroll, Honor Roll, etc. Examples of school activities could include marching band, athletics, student government, school clubs, etc. Examples of activities outside school could include community service and/or volunteer work, employment, American Legion baseball, clubs such as Scouts or competitive cheering, etc. Your list should include the organization or activity, grade(s) or year involved, any leadership position(s) held, and any honor(s) received. Your list should be typed or legibly written in black ink using 8 ½ x 11 inch white bond paper. Below is an example in the required format that must be followed: Scholastic Achievements: National Beta Club 10 th thru 12 th grade Secretary French National Honor Society 10 th - 11 th 12 th grade; 12 th grade Vice President Honor Roll 9 th thru 12 th grade School Activities: Marching Band 10 th -11 th -12 th grades Cross Country Team 9 th thru 12 th grades; Captain 12 th grade Student Government 9 th grade Freshman Class Secretary 12 th grade Student Body Treasurer National Youth Leadership Conference, Washington DC (2009) National Association of Student Councils Conference, Denver CO (2010) Activities outside the school: Work Experience: XYZ Grocery Stock person: 10 th -11 th grade; cashier-12 th grade Volunteer activities assistant at a retirement home: 11 th -12th grades Tutoring elementary students in reading and math: 12 th grade Boy Scouts 9 th thru 12 th grades; Eagle Scout-12 th grade REMINDER: The format above must be followed in listing Achievements and Activities. SUBMISSION: A complete scholarship package shall include (1) the completed application form, (2) transcript/validation, (3) SAT and/or ACT scores, (4) essay, (5) Achievements and Activities list, and (6) JROTC validation statements if applicable. The scholarship package must be mailed and postmarked no later than Wednesday, March 1, 2017 to the address below. Late submissions will not be considered. Col Mike Wellman, USAF (Ret) Roper Memorial Scholarship Chair 12119 Whitley Manor Dr Chesterfield VA 23838
ROPER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Southside Virginia Chapter (SVC), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) ACADEMIC YEAR 2016-2017 (Deadline for Submission: March 1, 2017) (All information must be printed CLEARLY and LEGIBLY in black ink or typed.) Applicant Name: Social Security Number: XXX-XX-. Home Address: ZIP Contact Information: Phone: Email: (Required) (Email will be used to contact you and to provide results of the Selection Committee) Parents Names (If deceased, so indicate): and Address if different from Applicant: ZIP Name of Applicant s High School: Office Phone: Name of School Guidance Counselor: Phone: Applicant s SAT Scores: Math: Reading: Writing: ; TOTAL: ACT Score (if taken): Composite: Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA): Last Semester/Quarter GPA: Class Standing: My Number of a total senior class of students. College or University you plan to attend: Date of your: Scholarship/Awards Assembly 2017; Graduation: 2017 SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: (Refer to and carefully read the Applicant Eligibility paragraph contained in the accompanying application materials for sponsor criteria.) Name: Military Rank: Active, Retired, or Deceased (Circle one) Address: ZIP: Contact Phone: Email: Relationship of Sponsor to Applicant (Refer to instructions): Affirmation: I affirm that all information in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge. Applicant s Signature: Date: 2017 Enclosures: (1) Essay; (2) Official Transcript including 1 st semester 2016/17 school year; (3) Official SAT and/or ACT Scores; (4) Achievements and Activities List; and (5) JROTC validation statements if applicable. Revised: 12/30/2016