2015-2016 Scholarship Program The Naval Officers Spouses Club of Okinawa (NOSCO) is offering scholarships to eligible military or eligible civilian family members. (Enrollment may be in an undergraduate degree program, on or off island).the applicant must meet one of the following: 1. Graduating high school senior, entering an accredited college, university, or vocational/trade school; or 2. Continuing student, an unmarried dependent, presently enrolled in a degree program in an accredited college, university, or vocational/trade school; or 3. Military spouse in a degree or associate degree program at an accredited college, university, or vocational/trade school. Scholarship selection will encompass a variety of areas including academic merit, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and a personal essay. This scholarship will be awarded without regard to gender, race, or creed of applicant, school to be attended (excluding military academies), and rate/rank of sponsor. ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible, an applicant: A. Must be an unmarried family member or a non-active duty spouse of a sponsor who is: 1. Active duty U.S. Navy personnel of any rank/rate assigned to Okinawa through the application deadline date (April 3, 2015); or 2. Retired U.S. Navy personnel living on Okinawa; or 3. Civilian personnel attached to the U.S. Navy and assigned to Okinawa through the application deadline date (Applicant must provide written affidavit from sponsor s CO stating that the sponsor is attached to the U.S. Navy); or 4. Deceased, but who met one of the above criteria prior to death. B. Must have current SOFA status if sponsor is on an accompanied tour. C. Must have a minimum 2.5 GPA D. Must plan to attend a fully accredited two to four-year college, university, or vocational/trade school as a full-time student; or E. Must be a military spouse planning to be enrolled part-time in an undergraduate course of study at an accredited institution (part-time study is defined as enrollment in at least one course totaling 6 credits per term for the entire 2015-2016 academic year). F. Military academy appointment or non-acceptance by a college, university, or vocational/trade program by September 30, 2015 will make the applicant ineligible. Dependents of Marine, Army, Air Force or DoDDs sponsors are ineligible to apply. 1
REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION: A. Completed NOSCO scholarship application form (application will not be considered if not completely filled out and submitted in a sealed envelope). B. Official, sealed, current school transcript. All continuing students must include a current transcript, reflecting the most recent term completed. C. SAT and/or ACT score results for high school students, if available (A photocopy of the school or student score report will be accepted). D. Two current letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, coaches, principals, mentors, and/or employers. The letters should be individually signed and sealed by the reference and included with the application package. Recommendations should include pertinent information on character, citizenship, and leadership. (Form letters will not be accepted). E. A 300 to 500-word essay from the applicant answering Question A, as well as either Question B or C. Question A How has being a Navy dependent impacted your educational experience, and how will this scholarship help assist your educational goals? Question B If you have spent time on Okinawa, how has this experience impacted your personal development? Question C If you haven t spent time on Okinawa, how has the separation from your family impacted your personal development? F. Complete application materials should be hand delivered or postmarked to the Fleet Gift Shop on Camp Shields (098-959-4911, www.fleetgiftshop.com) no later than April 3, 2015. Scholarship Chair c/o Fleet Gift Shop PSC 480 Box 50 FPO, AP 96370 Application Deadline: Postmarked or received by Fleet Gift Shop no later than April 3, 2015. (Incomplete applications or applications not submitted in sealed envelope will not be considered.) It could take 6 weeks for regular mail from to the United States to reach Okinawa. It is recommended that applications be sent priority with tracking. SELECTION CRITERIA: A. Satisfaction of eligibility criteria and application requirements. B. All criteria listed below: 1. Official, sealed, current school transcript 2. SAT and/or ACT scores for high school students, if available 3. Extracurricular activities and community service 4. Two sealed, current letters of recommendation 5. Personal essay 6. Completeness and professional presentation of application C. Applicants not satisfying all of the criteria will not be considered. 2
GENERAL INFORMATION: A. Scholarship monies may be used to pay for tuition and fees only (including room and board fees). Successful applicants will be awarded scholarship funds not to exceed the cost of one-year s tuition and fees at the school of their choice. B. Scholarship monies are available to the recipient on August 1, 2015 for one academic year beginning the fall term 2015 through the summer term 2016 (any unused funds will revert back to NOSCO). C. Only one scholarship will be awarded to an applicant per year. Previous winners of NOSCO scholarships are eligible to apply for future awards as long as the applicant meets eligibility requirements at the time of the application. D. Payment of Scholarship monies will be made as follows: 1. The college, university, or vocational/trade school will be paid directly for the tuition and fee portions of the bill. It is the recipient s responsibility to provide NOSCO with the completed disbursement form (which shall include the appropriate mailing address for payment) no later than May 31, 2015. 2. All monies will be sent to the attention of the Financial Aid Officer at the recipient s school, identifying the tuition and fee only scholarship award. E. If the recipient declines the award, the scholarship will be returned to the NOSCO Scholarship Fund. F. An award recipient, who does not attend, does not enroll as a full-time student in (with the exception of part-time student spouses), or who decides to withdraw from the Fall 2015, Spring 2016, or Summer 2016 terms at the approved college, university, or vocational/trade school listed in their application, will forfeit all rights to the awards and must immediately notify NOSCO. G. If it is determined that inaccuracy appears or information has been withheld from the Scholarship Committee, the scholarship will be returned to the NOSCO Scholarship Fund. Names of the applicants and any revealing data will be withheld from the NOSCO Scholarship Committee prior to selection. Please direct all questions to: NOSCO Scholarship Chairperson, E Beth Goad Email: nosco1stvp@gmail.com Mailing address: Scholarship Chair c/o Fleet Gift Shop PSC 480 Box 50 FPO, AP 96370 3
2015-2016 Scholarship Application STUDENT INFORMATION: (Application will not be considered if information is not completely filled out.) Full Name: SSN: Date of Birth: Residence Address: Mailing Address: Email: Home Phone: Duty Phone: Sponsor s Name/Rank: Position: Rotation Date: Work Address: Command Address: STATEMENT OF SPONSOR: 1. I have reviewed this application and, to the best of my knowledge, all information is correct. 2. I have authorized the release of transcripts for grades 10-12 (High School Seniors only). 3. If the scholarship is awarded to my military dependent, I release NOSCO from any responsibility beyond the limits of the scholarship and will in no way interfere or prevent my family member from accepting or utilizing the award. Signature of Sponsor/Legal Guardian Date STATEMENT OF APPLICANT: 1. I authorize the release of information contained in my transcript to NOSCO for the purpose of this application. 2. I have read, understand, and agree to abide by all scholarship application requirements and established guidelines as set forth in the application. SOFA STATUS (Please check one): Signature of Applicant Date High School Senior Continuing Student Spouse My sponsor is: Active duty Navy Retired Navy Civilian assigned to Navy Deceased but met one of the above criteria before death 4
2015-2016 Scholarship Application (You may attach additional sheets if necessary.) 1. Educational Background (Please fill out the following where applicable): High School/College/University/Trade School/Vocational Schools(s) Attended: School Dates Attended Major/Minor (if applicable) Degree(s) Received (if applicable) Date Graduated 2. List Other Scholarship(s) Awarded: 3. List Honors and Awards Received: 4. List Extracurricular Activities by year and identify any offices held: 5. List any Community Volunteer Activities: 6. List any Work Experience: 7. List areas of Special Interest pertaining to your goals: 8. Any Additional Comments: 5
Scholarship Disbursing Information Please print clearly. Full Name (as it appears on your school records): Social Security Number: Home Phone: Work Phone: Email Address: Mailing Address: Name and address of college, university, or vocational/trade school you will attend. Please include the department name to which the check should be sent and, if applicable, the name of the contact person. Month you will begin taking classes: NOTE: Please attach the following: 1. A statement of tuition and fees from your college; and/or 2. A photocopy from a school publication or a print out from the school web site. Please return this form no later than May 31, 2015 to the Fleet Gift Shop or mail it to: Scholarship Chairperson c/o Fleet Gift Shop PSC 480 Box 50 FPO AP 96370 6