George Hunt, Moore County veterans service officer, says the deadline for the latest round of scholarships is March 31. Applicants must be under the age of 25 at time of application.
Four Moore County high school students received scholarships this year.
The N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs, headed by Charles F. Smith, administers the state’s VA scholarship program.
“Many children apply each year for the scholastic aid offered by this fine program which provides benefits at public and private institutions in North Carolina,” Hunt said.
The scholarships may be used at schools located in North Carolina that are state-owned institutions of higher education, community colleges or technical institutes or are privately owned, nonprofit colleges and universities.
With one exception, scholarships cover tuition, certain fees and a reasonable room and board allowance at state-owned institutions and $4,500 per academic year in private institutions. The exception is that awards under the 100 percent service-connected disability provision provide free tuition and certain fees in state-owned institutions and $1,500 per academic year in private institutions.
There are several classes of eligibility.
Class I and Class IV apply to children of certain veterans who died or are 100 percent disabled as a result of wartime service or children of peacetime veterans whose death or 100 percent service-connected disability was incurred either as a result of armed conflict or while they were engaged in extra-hazardous service or children of certain veterans who were prisoners of war or listed as missing in action.
The veteran must have been a legal resident of North Carolina at the time of entry into service or the child must have been a lifelong resident of North Carolina.
Class II applies to children eligible under Classes I and IV whose parent was a war veteran who has or at the time of death had a 20 percent or more but less than 100 percent service-connected disability or was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. Certain children of peacetime veterans may qualify based on the nature of the parent’s disability.
Class III eligibility applies to children in the other categories whose parent was a war veteran and is receiving or at the time of death was receiving nonservice-connected disability pension benefits. It also applies to children whose veteran parent is a deceased war veteran who was honorably discharged and who does not qualify under any other provision.
Likewise, a child may be eligible if the parent served in a combat zone or waters adjacent to a combat zone, any campaign, expedition or engagement for which the U.S. Department of Defense authorizes a campaign badge or medal or who does not qualify under any other provision.
All awards are for four academic years in duration and must be used within eight years from date of the award. Unlimited awards are made under Classes I and IV. Classes II and III are limited to 100 awards each year in each class.
Interested persons may contact Hunt by calling 947-3257 or writing to P.O. Box 905, Carthage 28327 for more information, advice or active assistance with an application.
Hunt says that Class I or IV applications will be accepted at any time.
