Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship

As part of our efforts to give back to our nation’s veterans, Marc Whitehead & Associates Law Firm is honored to offer the Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship.

This nationally-based scholarship supports aspiring veterans, and children of veterans, who wish to further their education at the college or university level.

Our hope is to help enable returning soldiers to pursue their educational goals and position them for success in civilian professions. Our Veterans Scholarship is also open to sons and daughters of veterans, to help give them the opportunity to pursue their career desires and enjoy the benefits of post-secondary education. Learn about our past years’ veterans scholarship recipients here.

Veterans Scholarship Award Amount: $5000

The annual winning applicant of the Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship is awarded the amount of $5000.

Scholarship funds may be used to assist with tuition, books and related educational expenses at qualifying undergraduate institutions, and in the curriculum of their choice.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Veterans Scholarship Applicants must meet the following criteria:

You Are a United States Veteran:

• Hold U.S. Veteran status having served honorably
• Be accepted to an institution of higher learning (two- or four-year undergraduate program) – or –
• Be a college student currently.

You Are a Child of a United States Veteran

• Be an unmarried child (under 24 years of age) who is a dependent
• Be accepted to an institution of higher learning (two- or four-year undergraduate program) – or –
• Be a college student currently.

Applicants will provide the following accreditation:

The following documents must be provided for consideration and sent by email only via the Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship Submission Form at the bottom of this page.

• Veterans must provide proof of service in the armed forces.
• Children of veterans must provide a copy of the veteran’s (your parent’s) proof of service in the armed forces
• Proof of legal U.S. residency (driver’s license, birth certificate, passport etc.)
• College Acceptance Letter  or  Current College ID
• Most recent transcript (college or high school)
• Note: Recipient will be asked to provide their upcoming fall class schedule (verifying 12 credit hours or more)

Essay Submission

Applicants for the Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship will submit an original essay of no less than 700 words and no more than 1500 words on the following topic:

Veterans:

• Why are you a good candidate to receive this award?
• Describe how you have demonstrated community service
• Describe how you have demonstrated leadership ability both in and out of military service
• Support this by identifying as least one meaningful achievement and how it relates to your chosen field of study and your future goals

Children of Veterans

• Why are you a good candidate to receive this award?
• Describe how you have demonstrated community service
• Describe how you have demonstrated leadership ability both in and out of school
• Explain how you plan to use your education to make a positive impact in your community
• At the top of your essay: Please type your full name, email address, mailing address and phone number. Also include a brief paragraph about yourself, the college or university you attend or will attend, and your plans and goals for the future.
• Your name may be shared with the public.
• Please DO NOT include:
  • Letters of recommendation, tax returns, resumes, bank statements, or any other materials not mentioned above.

Essay Writing Tips

Awards based on essay content offer equitable opportunities among veterans and the children of veterans of all backgrounds and financial circumstances.

• Submissions should be serious in nature and thoughtfully and purposefully written. The essay topic is an issue full of opportunity for creative and compelling writing. Use the essay to set yourself apart from all other applicants.
• Remember: you are trying to show why you deserve the scholarship. Take the time to plan and prepare a scholarship-worthy essay. Proofread intensely and double-check facts and details.
• Be original and sincere in your writing. Plagiarized essay content or false information will be grounds for disqualification.

How & Where Do I Send the Application Documents?

Use the Email Form at the bottom of this page to submit your entry and all attachments. This is explained in detail below.

Application Deadline for the 2026 Fall Semester:

Submit your completed application including essay no later than April 30, 2026.

Scholarship Timeline:

Submissions open: November 1, 2025

Submissions close: April 30, 2026

Essay judging complete: May 31, 2026

Scholarship recipients contacted by: June 14, 2026

How Is the Veterans Scholarship Decided?

The essay portion is the bulk of the application and is used to determine the winner of the Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship.

Scholarships are awarded based on the originality, merit and substantive quality of the essay.

Essays are evaluated by attorney Marc Whitehead along with an outside panel of judges comprised of (2 to 6) veterans advocates.

How to Apply? Online!

This is an online application process using the Submission Form on this page followed by sending attachments by email (i.e., there is no paper submission packet for this scholarship.) All the information you need can be found on this web page and your Confirmation Email.

1. Compose your essay

Write an essay based on the topic described above for either a Veteran or a Child of a Veteran.

2. Assemble documentation

Once your essay is completed and ready for submission, assemble the other required documents to be included with the application. Attachments are to be sent via email as described in Step 5 below.

All documents and attachments should be saved in the following file formats only:

• PDF (.pdf)
• Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

3. Fill out and submit the Online Submission Form below

4. You will receive a Confirmation Email from Marc Whitehead & Associates

5. Reply to the Confirmation Email by attaching all required documents. (These instructions will also be included in your confirmation email.):

• Veterans must provide proof of service in the armed forces.
• Children of veterans must provide a copy of the veteran’s (your parent’s) proof of service in the armed forces
• Proof of legal U.S. residency (driver’s license, birth certificate, passport etc.)
• College Acceptance Letter  or  Current College ID
• Most recent transcript (college or high school)
• Note: Recipient will be asked to provide their upcoming fall class schedule (verifying 12 credit hours or more)
• Scholarship Essay

AND YOU’RE DONE. GOOD LUCK!

After the application period has closed our panel of judges will choose the winners by the end of May and notify winners by June 15.

Ownership of Scholarship Applications

Entry materials will not be returned to you. By submitting an entry for the Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship, you acknowledge that if you become a scholarship recipient, Marc Whitehead & Associates will own all rights to publish and promote the submission.

Use of Name and Likeness

All applicants agree that they consent to the use of their name and city/state of residence, as well to the use of their likeness (as in a photograph) and award information.

How We Treat Your Private Information

Protecting your privacy is important to us. Marc Whitehead & Associates will use the personal information (i.e., email, physical address, phone number) you provide for the sole purpose of evaluating your scholarship application. We will not share, sell, or otherwise make your personal information available to any individual, corporation, or organization. Please view our Privacy Policy.

Submission Form:

Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship

College Scholarship for Veterans and Children of Veterans **