Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship

It is important to acknowledge the sacrifices of our servicemembers who preserve our freedom, but that is not enough. The sacrifices of the children of those who served should also be honored. Providing funds to assist these children so they can pursue higher education is a concrete way of showing how much we, as a nation, care.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors the Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship to support the children of our warriors. These scholarships are awarded to 15 students annually who excel in academics and volunteer in their communities.

Fifteen scholarships, in the amount of $5,000 each, will be awarded for 2026. All are gift scholarships, not loans.

Three scholarships will be awarded in each of the five divisions of the American Legion Auxiliary.

• CENTRAL DIVISION - Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin
• EASTERN DIVISION - Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
• NORTHWESTERN DIVISION - Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
• SOUTHERN DIVISION - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
• WESTERN DIVISION - Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Eligibility and Rules

• Candidates for this award shall be direct descendants of veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during eligibility dates for membership in The American Legion: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; and any time after December 7, 1941. Membership in The American Legion Family is not required for this scholarship.
• Applicants must be in their senior year of high school.
• This is a scholarship to attend an accredited institution of higher education.
• Applicants must complete 50 hours of volunteer service within the community during their high school years. Hours must be verified in writing by the recipient organization(s).
• Essay answers must have a minimum of 600 characters in length. This requirement ensures that responses are detailed enough to fully address the question given. All essays will be reviewed using AI tools to help ensure originality. These tools assist in identifying potential plagiarism and detecting AI-generated content. Applicants that rely heavily on AI will be disqualified.
• Completed applications are DUE ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern.
• Judging, at all levels, shall be on the following basis:
• 30% - Character/Leadership
• 30% - Essay/Application
• 40% - Academic Achievement
• THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES SHALL BE FINAL.

Attachments:

You will need to attach several different documents for this application. Below is a list of things you will need to complete your application.

• Veteran Proof of Service  a copy of your veteran's discharge papers or a copy of active-duty service members' most recent set of orders
• Transcripts, or photocopy of the transcripts, of the applicant's most recent high school grades.
• Documentation verifying 50 hours of voluntary service during high school years. Screenshots of online portals are not acceptable. See ALA Scholarship FAQs for more details on what is acceptable.
• Two letters of recommendation: one letter of recommendation must be from an educator or spiritual advisor who is familiar with the applicant’s academic performance, extracurricular activities, and can describe their skills, leadership experience, and character. The second letter of recommendation is from a person of the applicant’s choosing attesting to the applicant's character regarding conduct, citizenship, and leadership. Letters of recommendation from family members will not be accepted.

Essay Question for 2026 Application:

As a descendant of a veteran, what lessons did you learn from your family’s military service? How has that impacted your life and how do you hope to honor that legacy as you make plans for your own future?