Salvation Army D.J.’s Hero Awards Program

The Salvation Army D.J.’s Hero Awards Program is named in memory of D.J. Sokol, who lost his battle with cancer in 1999 at age 18. His parents, David and Peggy Sokol, established the program to honor the achievements of outstanding Nebraska high school seniors who overcome adversity and show outstanding leadership qualities in their communities. Every year, a new group of recipients is presented with $12,000 D.J.'s Hero Awards scholarships during the Hero Awards Luncheon, which is held in Omaha. More than two decades after the founding of the program, D.J.’s legacy lives on in the scholarship recipients—all of whom demonstrate his trademark resilience, kindness, and generosity.

The D.J.’s Hero Awards scholarships are open to all Nebraska high-school seniors.

Eligibility For Nominee

• Must be enrolled as a senior at--or affiliated with--a Nebraska high school during the 2024-2025 academic year and must be planning to attend college in the U.S. in fall 2025.
• Required to attend D.J.'s Hero Awards Luncheon in Omaha (hotel accommodations will be provided for all scholarship winners and their parents or chaperones).
• Required to work with a free TeamMates+ mentor during their undergraduate experience and/or have a mentor to be able to connect with and they must be willing to communicate with The Salvation Army.
• Participate in ongoing research about the impact of the scholarship.
• Required to attend Behavioral Health Awareness training with the Kim Foundation

Eligibility For Nominator

• Must be an adult (age 21 or older).
• Must not be related to the nominee.
• Should have a direct connection with nominee (e.g., teacher, counselor, coach, administrator, pastor, mentor, employer, leader of a community organization).

*Nominators are highly encouraged to nominate multiple students.

Submission Information

PLEASE NOTE:  An application will only be considered complete when both of the following steps have been completed:

1. You have submitted your Nominee Form.

2. Your nominator has submitted their Nominator Form.

Both forms must be submitted in order for your application to be considered complete.

Deadline: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

• Submissions are due no later than Wed., March 12 via the forms below
• Please call (402) 898-7691 with questions regarding the submission process.
• Submissions must be made online as detailed above; printed-out or mailed-in submissions will not be accepted.

D.J.’s Hero Awards Timeline

• March 12  Deadline for submission of all nomination materials
• Week of April 14, scholarship winners are informed
• May 13, scholarships are awarded to honorees at the 2025 D.J.’s Hero Awards Luncheon in downtown Omaha

Scholarship Details

A minimum of 16 scholarships will be awarded. Each scholarship is worth $12,000 and will be disbursed at the rate of $3,000 annually (up to four years).

• Ten $12,000 D.J.’s Hero Scholarships are underwritten by David and Peggy Sokol in loving memory of their son, D.J. The awards recognize Nebraska high school seniors who exemplify perseverance and selflessness and who are servant-leaders in their communities.
• The $12,000 D.J.’s Hero Teresa Hunzeker Memorial Scholarship recognizes a student who demonstrates perseverance and service to the community, and who plans to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) studies in college. The scholarship honors the life of Teresa Hunzeker, who passed away in 2018.
• The $12,000 D.J’s Hero Kim Courtnage Memorial Scholarship is awarded in loving memory of Larry and Kathy Courtnage’s daughter. This scholarship will be given to a student who plans to enter the behavioral health field or who has been personally impacted in some way by mental illness or suicide. The Kim Foundation will provide all new D.J.’s Hero Award winners with Behavioral Health Awareness training, annually, either in person or via a required online training module.
• The $12,000 D.J.’s Hero Charles Schroer Memorial Scholarship is in loving memory of Jim and Marilyn Schroer’s son, Charles. This scholarship will be awarded to a student who shows determination and generosity.
• A minimum of one $12,000 D.J.’s Hero Awards Scholarship will be funded by The Salvation Army.