AER programs offer scholarships to students, spouses

Army Emergency Relief's MG James Ursano Scholarship Program is for dependent children of active, retired and deceased Soldiers. The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program offers scholarships based on financial need, academics and leadership/achievement.

To be eligible, applicants must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale; be full-time undergraduate students for the entire academic year at a school accredited by the U.S. Department of Education; and be dependents of a Soldier on federal active duty, a retiree, or a deceased active or retired Soldier. Dependents must be under age 23, registered in DEERS and
unmarried for the entire academic year.

The 2008-2009 MG James Ursano Scholarship Program Application is available now and is due March 1. Applications are available at www.aerhq.org. Hardcopy applications may be requested through Kasey Phillips, 703-428-0035, via e-mail to kasey@aerhq.org or by mail to: HQ, Army Emergency Relief, MG James Ursano Scholarship Program, 200 Stovall St., Alexandria, VA 22332-0600.

The Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program is a need-based education assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty and retired Soldiers, and widow(ers) of Soldiers who died either on active duty or in a retired status, and living in the United States, with financial assistance in pursuing educational goals. The program's purpose is to assist spouses/widow(ers) in gaining the education required to allow them to qualify for increased occupational opportunities.

To be eligible, applicants must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale; be full time undergraduate students for the entire academic year at a school accredited by the U.S. Department of Education; and be dependents of a Soldier on federal active duty, a retiree, or a deceased active or retired Soldier. Dependents must be registered in DEERS.

Applications are available on AER's Web site, www.aerhq.org and are due March 1.

Hardcopy applications may be requested through Diann Evans, 703-325-2091, via e-mail to diann@aerhq.org or by mail to: HQ, Army Emergency Relief, Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program, 200 Stovall St., Alexandria, VA 22332-0600.

The 2008-2009 Student Aid Report is needed for both scholarship programs. The process to obtain the SAR is started by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. After analyzing data on the FAFSA, the SAR is produced and sent to the applicant.

Since AER is not an education institution, it does not receive a copy of the SAR unless the applicant mails a copy after they get theirs.

The Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program is a need-based education assistance program designed to provide spouses, residing with active duty Soldiers in an overseas command, with financial assistance in pursuing educational goals. The program's purpose is to assist spouses in gaining the education required to allow them to qualify for increased occupational opportunities.

To be eligible, applicants must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale; be an undergraduate student at a school accredited by the U.S. Department of Education; be dependents of a Soldier on federal active duty and live with an active duty Soldier in an overseas command. Dependents must be registered in DEERS.

Applications are available on the Web site, www.aerhq.org. Spouses must renew every Term. The deadline for each term application, renewal form and/or supporting documents to AER for 2007-2008 is:

Term 1 = July 16, 2007
Term 2 = Sept. 17
Term 3 = Dec. 10
Term 4 = Feb. 18
Term 5 = April 28
Hardcopy applications may be requested through Angela Huro, 703-325-0313; via e-mail to: angela@aerhq.org or by mail to: HQ, Army Emergency Relief, Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program, 200 Stovall St., Alexandria, VA 22332-0600.