ANAVICUS Scholarships

ANAVICUS (Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada United States) is a unit of ANAVETS – the Canadian veterans organization founded in 1840. The United States charter was presented in 1953 during The American Legion's national convention in St. Louis where the first ANAVICUS meeting was held. There are 1,200 members in ANAVICUS, and all are American Legion past national commanders and other distinguished Legionnaires. ANAVICUS membership is by invitation only, and new members are inducted twice a year at national convention and the Washington Conference.

In 1982, the ANAVICUS executive committee voted to establish and fund a memorial to Past National Commander Harry W. Colmery, who authored the original GI Bill. The memorial is located at American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis. ANAVICUS also presents nine scholarships a year that are in memory of a distinguished ANAVICUS member.

The following are the available scholarships through ANAVICUS:

Frank R. Kossa Memorial ANAVICUS Scholarship. The scholarship is presented to a cadet of the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It is awarded to an outstanding cadet of the third year based on academic performance and leadership potential. All cadets are assessed and graded upon completion of their third year. The college makes the selection of the recipient.

Father Edward J. Carney Scholarship. Carney was a national chaplain of The American Legion and longtime chaplain of ANAVICUS. This $1,500 scholarship is given to a sophomore or junior student at Merrimack College, North Andover, Mass., based on financial need, a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and proven leadership potential. The college makes the selection of the recipient.

Reverend Frank L. Harrington Scholarship. Harrington was a national chaplain of The American Legion and faculty member of Carroll College in Helena, Mont. This $1,500 scholarship given to an outstanding sophomore or junior student at Carroll College based on financial need, a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and proven leadership potential. The college makes the selection.

General Lewis B. Hershey Scholarship. Hershey was a leading force in establishing the United States unit of ANAVIC and served as its first president for 20 years. This $1,500 scholarship is given to a sophomore or junior student at Trine University in Angola, Ind., based on financial need, a 3.0 cumulative GPA and demonstrated leadership potential. The college selects the recipient.

James F. O’Neil Scholarship. O’Neil was a past national commander of The American Legion and a past president of ANAVICUS. This $1,500 scholarship is given to an outstanding sophomore or junior student at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., based on a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and proven leadership potential. The college selects the recipient.

General Frank R. Schwengel Scholarship. Schwengel was instrumental in establishing the United States unit of ANAVIC. This $1,500 scholarship is given to a sophomore or junior student at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., based on demonstrated financial need, a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA and proven leadership potential. The college selects the recipient.

E. Roy Stone Jr. ROTC Scholarship. This $1,500 scholarship is given to a worthy and deserving full time student at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. Stone was an alumnus and faithful friend of the university, was a past national commander of The American Legion and a longtime distinguished member of the ANAVICUS Executive Committee. The college makes the selection.

Richard M. Pedro Memorial Scholarship. Pedro was a longtime Department of New York adjutant and ANAVICUS Executive & Selection Committee. This $1,500 scholarship is given to a student in the ROTC program based on financial need and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The college selects the student.

Judge Daniel F. Foley Scholarship. Foley was a long-standing ANAVICUS president. This $1,500 scholarship is given to a student who is a direct descendant of a member or deceased member of the Army, Navy, & Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS). Their board of directors receives the applications and decides the bursary recipient at their meeting in a September/October timeframe. ANAVETS will contact the university or college directly to verify the attendance of the recipient and send the check directly to the student’s account.

Rev. Jerome D. Fortenberry Scholarship (ONLY for direct descendants of ACTIVE ANAVICUS members). Fortenberry was a longtime ANAVICUS chaplain. This scholarship is exclusively made available to living and current ANAVICUS members’ direct descendants (child, grandchild, great-grandchild). ANAVICUS will award one $1,500 scholarship per calendar year. The scholarship will be paid to the college to deposit into the student’s account. The student must be a high school senior or enrolled at an accredited college or vocational school. The scholarship application is available in September and due in April.