Women Marines Association Scholarship Program

The WMA Scholarship committee administers a variety of awards and the total number of scholarships granted is determined by the annual earnings from the investments (available funds) and the specific scholarship requirements. All submissions completed within the application period by qualified applicants get reviewed for consideration.

• Application Period is 1 February to 31 March
• Applications that are postmarked after 31 March will not be considered
• Eligibility: All scholarship applicants must be sponsored by a WMA member in good standing (apart from Marine Corps JROTC cadets and Young Marines who have a special eligibility requirement as stated Proof of Military Service) and satisfy one of the identified criteria outlined in WMA Scholarship Procedures
• Applications must be submitted each year; they are not reoccurring.

ELIGIBILITY

1. To qualify for review, the applicant must satisfy with proof of one of the below criteria:

a. Have served, or serving in the United States Marine Corps or Marine Corps Reserve OR

b. Be a direct descendant by blood (three generations i.e., child, parent, grandparent, great-grandparent), legal adoption, or stepchild of a Marine on active duty, or who has served honorably in the United States Marine Corps, Regular or Reserve OR

c. Be a sibling, legal adoption, or stepchild of a Marine on active duty, or who has served honorably in the United States Marine Corps, Regular or Reserve OR

d. Be a spouse of a Marine OR

e. Have completed two (2) years in the Marine Corps JROTC program OR

f. Currently active in the Young Marines Program; AND

g. Be sponsored by a current WMA member in good standing.

• PROOF OF MILITARY SERVICE. If eligibility is based on one’s own service, a copy of their Discharge Certificate, DD214 (SSN should be redacted), copy of military ID card (both sides), Veterans Administration (VA) verification letter, or a letter on command letterhead from the Commanding Officer or Administrative Officer is required to verify eligibility.
• PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP TO A U.S. MARINE. If eligibility is based on the relationship with a Marine, please submit evidence of the relationship. Documents required as proof include a copy of the Discharge Certificate or DD214, VA verification letter, marriage certificates, birth certificates, adoption documents, or military dependent ID (both sides), or a letter on Command stationery. PLEASE REDACT ANY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS.
• USMC JROTC STATUS. If eligibility is based on completing two years JROTC participation, a Senior Military Instructor (SMI) must submit a letter attesting to the applicant’s status. The second letter of recommendation is still required.
• YOUNG MARINES PROGRAM. Unit Commander must submit a letter attesting to the applicant’s status in the program. The second letter of recommendation is still required.

2. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY:

a. Must have maintained a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. (Not weighted)

b. One copy of the official transcript sent from the school to the Scholarship Chairperson or included in the application package. (See Note 2)

c. Letter of acceptance for the following year from the applicant’s school of choice. (If acceptance has not been received by the deadline for submission of this application, the decision of grant will be delayed until received. We acknowledge some schools do not send out their acceptance letters until later in the school year.)

3. COLLEGE STUDENTS ONLY:

a. A minimum college GPA = 3.0.

b. All first-year students (freshmen) must submit: (See Note 2)

i. Official final high school transcript may be sent from the high school to the Scholarship Chairperson at scholarship@womenmarines.org or included in the application package.

ii. One copy of the current official college transcripts may be sent from the college to the Scholarship Chairperson or included in the application package in a sealed envelope.

c. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-year students will be evaluated on current official transcripts sent from the school directly to the Scholarship Chairperson or included in the application package in a sealed envelope.

d. Master/Ph.D. applicants are required to submit official undergraduate transcripts sent from the school/college to the Scholarship Chairperson or included in the application package in a sealed envelope.

e. Current college and active-duty personnel applicants must be full-time students (12 credit hours) to be eligible for a WMA Scholarship. Master/Ph.D. applicants are required to take at least six (6) credit hours each semester.

NOTE 1: For those applicants who have completed their first enlistment or have been out of the education pipeline for over 10 years, are not required to submit an official high school transcript or ACT/SAT scores.

NOTE 2: Transcripts sent from Parchment are accepted instead of official transcripts sent from the school and must be dated no later than 31 March to be accepted. Schools are encouraged to send transcripts electronically to Scholarship@womenmarines.org. (Request your transcripts early and do not wait until the last minute to meet application deadline.)

NOTE 3: If an applicant needs a WMA member sponsor, notify the Scholarship Chair no later than (NLT) 01 March. Requests after this date will not be accommodated. The Chair will try to locate a WMA sponsor for you for the current scholarship year only.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application period extends exclusively from 1 February through 31 March. Applications and all supporting documents including official transcripts postmarked after the deadline of 31 March will not be considered.

A completely new application package must be submitted each time an applicant applies. Previous submissions and incomplete applications will not be considered, and the applicant will not be notified when the package is received.