GRANTS FOR EDUCATION
When teachers or instructors propose innovative, aerospace-themed projects, they unleash their students’ imaginations and encourage bright minds to explore futures in STEM fields. Unfortunately, sometimes a lack of funding prevents these projects from becoming a reality. AFA is proud to step in and offer three types of education grants to make sure those dreams become reality.
Empowering Teachers to Inspire
AFA Educator Grants
Every year, AFA awards $500 grants to 40 educators poised to make a lasting difference. The grant process is competitive. A committee of aerospace education experts reviews all qualified applications and scores them based on their detailed grant proposals. AFA selects projects that best serve our nation’s students and support our mission.
AFA Educator Grant applications are accepted from September 1st through December 15th. Educator Grants are awarded in February. Please view and submit your grant application online via our third-party website, SmarterSelect. AFA will not consider hardcopy or faxed applications.
Scholarships for ROTC
Scholarships Help Students Soar
Through these AFA scholarships, caring organizations and individuals help students pursue their dreams of higher education with generous grants. These programs exemplify the lifelong bond of Airmen and the commitment of our supporting community. AFA is proud to present this year’s scholarship recipients and highlight all of their contributions toward furthering the AFA, and Air and Space Force missions.
AFA accepts scholarship applications between December 1 and April 30.
COLONEL AARON BURGSTEIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Provides $1,000 annually to minor dependents of Active, Guard, Reserve, veteran, or retired members of any service branch pursuing a degree at an accredited college or university.
CAPTAIN JODI CALLAHAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Provides $1,000 to USAF/USSF Active Duty, Guard, or Reserve personnel pursuing a master’s degree in a non-technical field.
MIKE & GAIL DONLEY SPOUSE SCHOLARSHIPS
Provides $2,500 annually to encourage Air Force or Space Force spouses worldwide to pursue higher education.
LT. COL. ROMEO AND JOSEPHINE BASS FERRETTI SCHOLARSHIP
Provides $5,000 to minor dependents of Air and Space Force Active Duty, Reserve, or Air National Guard enlisted Airmen pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree.
COL. LOREN J. AND MRS. LAWONA R. SPENCER SCHOLARSHIP
Provides three $5,000 scholarships for Air Force personnel (Active Duty, civilian, or full-time National Guard or Reserve) to pursue graduate-level education in management and administration in preparation for senior-level leadership roles.
JOHN C. AND BLANCHE LEE LINDSAY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Provides one $2,500 scholarship to a child of members of the United States Air who is pursuing a college degree.
DR. SYDELL PERLMUTTER GOLD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Provides a renewable $5,000 annual scholarship (for a total possible award of $20,000) to the daughter of Active, Guard, or Reserve Air Force members pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field.
DELTA DENTAL GRANTS
Provides five $2,000 scholarships and grants to military spouses, military dependents, and transitioning service members for the advancement of oral health and wellness.
TRIDENT UNIVERSITY FULL SCHOLARSHIP
Provides three full-tuition scholarships to current AFA members pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degrees at Trident University. Both current and prospective students are eligible.
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Provides $1,000 to current and former members of the Air and Space Forces, Air National Guard, and Reserve, and their spouses or children to pursue a college degree or flight training.
PENTAGON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION PILOT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP
Sponsored by Pentagon Federal Credit Union, this scholarship is available to AFA members to pursue pilot training towards a private pilot’s license. The award will be for a maximum of $10,000 and applicable to aircraft rental and instructor fees at a training facility of the recipient’s choice.
DESTIN FLIGHT WORKS PILOT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP
Funded by Vertol, this program provides one AFA member per year up to $10,000 toward pilot training courses, instructor fees, and aircraft rental, leading to a private pilot’s license at the Destin Flight Works school in Destin, Fla.
THE GEORGE AND VICKI MUELLNER FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
Created through a generous contribution by the George and Vicki Muellner Foundation, two scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each are awarded annually to eligible college students in Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings (AAS-SW). Applications are accepted September through November each academic year.
More information can be found at www.aas-sw.org under Academic Scholarships and questions may be directed to the AAS-SW Executive Management Center at mgmt.center@arnold-air.org.
Grants for Civil Air Patrol Units
AFA is proud to offer $250 grants to Civil Air Patrol (CAP) units to advance aerospace education and STEM initiatives for cadets and in outreach initiatives. AFA’s grant support to CAP units helps inspire interest in youth across the nation toward science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects and careers. Grants are issued twice a year. Deadlines are June 30 and December 31 each year. For information, please contact afa@capnhq.gov.
AFA Grants for Civil Air Patrol Units
Grants for JROTC Units
AFA offers grants of $250 to JROTC units to advance aerospace education in the classroom. These grants enhance students’ understanding of the critical role aerospace plays in today and tomorrow’s society. AFA is proud to partner with JROTC to operate aerospace education programs in 30 classrooms to reach hundreds of cadets annually.
BILLY MITCHELL CHAPTER #247 