Wisconsin American Legion Auxiliary Scholarships

Wisconsin American Legion Auxiliary Scholarships:

Eligibility requirements as stated in the eligibility section apply to all scholarships. Please be aware that some scholarships have additional eligibility and requirements; please read applications carefully.

​Eligibility for Wisconsin Auxiliary scholarships:

1. Students may apply for scholarships regardless of when the veteran served.

1. Applicant must be a child, grandchild, great-grandchild, step-child, step grandchild, step great- grandchild, wife or widow of an honorably discharged American veteran.
2. An applicant who is a member of the Wisconsin American Legion Family does not need to reside in Wisconsin.

2. Applicants must:

1. Need financial assistance to continue their education.
2. Have at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 grade base.
3. Be a resident of Wisconsin, except as noted in 1(b).

3. School selected need not be in Wisconsin but must be an accredited school.

4. Judges reserve the right to determine the type of scholarship awarded. Judge’s decision is final.

​NOTE: Applicants can only receive one department scholarship, are awarded on a one-time only basis (lifetime), and are non-renewable. Applicants who previously received a scholarship from the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Wisconsin are not eligible for another department scholarship, including scholarships for graduate students.

​Responsibility of Applicant:

1. Scholarship application must:

1. Be signed by the president or secretary of a sponsoring American Legion Auxiliary unit in your community. Units may sponsor more than one department scholarship applicant.
2. Be postmarked no later than the deadline listed on the application.
3. Include applicant’s name on each page of scholarship material submitted.

2. Applicant should select his/her own school and make all arrangements for entrance.

Data Required: (all information will remain confidential)

1. Completed application with list of student activities, community involvement, offices held, awards received, etc.
2. Essay must be typed and doubled spaced, not to exceed 300 words, per the essay titles listed on application.
3. At least three letters of recommendation from at least two of the following categories:

Note: Recommendations from relatives are not acceptable.

1. School administrators, guidance counselors, faculty members (no more than two)
2. Pastor, businessmen from community (no more than two)
3. Representative citizen (only one)

4. Transcript (high school applicants only) including:

1. Cumulative GPA at end of 7th semester
2. The point base for grade point system used
3. Subjects and grades for 7th semester
4. Provide at least one of the following: college bound percentile, scores from ACT, SAT, or PSAT

5. Transcript (college applicants only) including:

1. All subjects, grades and cumulative GPA through current semester (or most current semester completed)
2. Graduate students include undergraduate transcript
3. Point base for grade point system used (if other than 4.0 base)

6. Copy of Veteran’s DD-214 (discharge papers verifying honorable discharge)

Scholarship award payments will be made directly to the Financial Aid Office of the institution that the recipient will be attending. If the award is $1,000 or more, the American Legion Auxiliary will pay one-half of the awarded amount at the beginning of the first two semesters. If tuition has been paid, the money can be used for other school necessities. If the recipient drops out of school before the end of the term, any remaining money shall be returned to the Auxiliary. The scholarship money will be held at American Legion Auxiliary headquarters in the scholarship winner’s name for a period of one semester in the hope that the 
student will return to school.

​Department Scholarships:

​Department President’s Scholarship: Three - $1,000 awards

Department President’s Scholarship offers three scholarships to attend a college or university of the applicant’s choice. These scholarships are paid from donations received. To qualify for this scholarship, either the mother or the applicant must be a member of a Wisconsin American Legion Auxiliary unit.

​Van Deuren Memorial Scholarship: One - $1,000 award

This scholarship is funded by a bequest from Roselie Van Deuren. To qualify for this scholarship, either the mother or the applicant must be a member of a Wisconsin American Legion Auxiliary unit.

​H.S. & Angeline Lewis Scholarships: Five $1,000 awards & One $1,000 award (for grad students only) The H. S. & Angeline Lewis Scholarship Fund was established by the Wisconsin American Legion Auxiliary in July 1980 by convention action. This scholarship program was made available to the Auxiliary through the generosity of one of our deceased members, Angeline Lewis, a member of Unit 214, Darlington. Mrs. Lewis bequeathed her estate to our organization for the establishment of a fund to be utilized annually for a scholarship program for deserving applicants. One award is for graduate students only.

​Department Merit & Memorial Scholarships: Eight - $1,000 awards

Qualifications are the same for all of the Merit & Memorial awards.

​The following awards are paid from the M. Louise Wilson Fund:

• Harriet Hass Scholarship: One $1,000 award
• Merit Scholarship: One $1,000 award

The following awards are paid from the HS & Angeline Lewis Fund:

• Adalin Macauley Scholarship (Past National President, 1926-27): One $1,000 award
• Eleanor Smith Scholarship (Past National President, 1943-44): One $1,000 award
• Pearl Behrend Scholarship (Past National President, 1987-88): One $1,000 award
• Barbara Kranig Scholarship (Past National President, 1997-98): One $1,000 award
• Jan Pulvermacher-Ryan Scholarship (Past National President, 2007-08): One $1,000 award
• Diane Duscheck Scholarship (Past National President, 2017-18): One $1,000 award

​​1996 Convention action provided that in the event the Department of Wisconsin is again honored by the election of another National President, an additional scholarship shall be established in his/her name.

​Child Welfare Scholarship: One - $1,000 award (for graduate students only)

This scholarship is funded by donations and awarded to a graduate student in the field of Special Education. If no applicant in the Special Education field applies, then this scholarship is to be awarded to a graduate student in the field of Education. This scholarship could be applied to two consecutive summer sessions.

​Past Presidents Parley Scholarships: Maximum of Three - $1,000 awards

These scholarships have been made possible through a legacy from Harriet Hubbard and through donations to the Past Presidents’ Parley scholarship fund.

• Harriet Hubbard Registered Nurse Scholarships: no more than two $1,000 awards

Applicant must be in nursing school or have positive acceptance to an accredited hospital or university Registered Nurse program.

• Health Career Scholarships: no more than two $1,000 awards

Course of study need not be a 4-year program. Hospital, university or technical school program is acceptable.