Process to Apply for Scholarships:

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The American GI Forum Education Foundation of Santa Maria awards scholarships on a yearly basis. The number of scholarship grants are dependent upon the availability of funds, but an average of 15 to 20 are awarded each year.

Applications are available in February; awards were presented on May 2, 2025.  An additional award period will be available this year in the Fall.  The application is online and the deadline will be September 30, 2025.

Eligibility to apply and receive a scholarship is based upon a student’s academic year standing. All applicants must be in their Senior year in high school or a continuing college or university student. At this time, consideration is only given to students from the Santa Maria Valley area.

Applications are sent to local high schools and the local community college, Allan Hancock College; or it may be obtained on our website. 

Eligible applications are reviewed by a selection committee made up of members of the American GI Forum Education Foundation Board and members of the American GI Forum Santa Maria Chapter. Recipients are selected on a point system made up of the following criteria: grade point average, financial need,  essay, and letters of recommendation.  Additional points are given for first in family to attend higher education, community service, families of veterans, and to families of AGIF members.

Recipients will be notified by mail, invited to an event where they are the honored guests; and given information on how to process their scholarship check. Actual scholarship checks will be issued following receipt of a copy of the student’s fall registration.

All eligible applicants are invited to apply, regardless of their grade point average or the college/university/vocational school they will be attending.

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