Educational opportunities through the Aerospace Education Foundation

There are a number of scholarship and educational awards that can be obtained through the Air Force Education Foundation (AEF). Information on a number of these is presented below. Additional background and information can be found at the AEF website or contact Gene Alfaro.

Civil Air Patrol Educator Grant

The Civil Air Patrol Educator Grant is funded by the Air Force Association and managed by the Civil Air Patrol Headquarters.

There are four grant cycles, two for CAP units and two for educators, with deadlines of March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. The June and December cycles are for CAP units and the March and September cycles are for educator grants. Grant recipients should send the Grant Recipient Response form to the address below as soon as possible after utilizing the funds. Click here for more information.

Air Force Junior ROTC Grants

The AFJROTC Grant was established to promote aerospace education throughout classrooms where funds currently are not available. We hope you take this opportunity to enhance your students’ ideas on how aerospace plays a prominent role in today and tomorrow’s society. Applications will be judged by the importance and impact your selected aerospace activity will have on your students. Please do not let this chance to heighten your student’s interest in aerospace education activities pass by. Click here for more information.

EDUCATOR GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

The Association is accepting Educator Grant Applications from August 1 –November 14, 2008. Each academic year AFA awards grants of up to $250 to viable projects that substantially enhances student academic excellence in math, science and technologies. The association believes that one of the most significant means to motivate student learning is to fund grants to meet the unmet and unfunded educational needs of the students. The Educator Grant program promotes aerospace education initiatives in K-12 classrooms and encourages development of innovative aerospace activities within the prescribed curriculum. Click here for more information.

Jodi Callahan Memorial Graduate Scholarship

The Jodi Callahan Memorial Graduate Scholarship provides a $1,000 scholarship to an Air Force active duty, full time Guard or Reserve (officer or enlisted), person pursuing a Masters Degree in a non-technical field of study. Additional information and application may be found at http://www.aef.org/aid/callahan.asp.

Pitsenbarger Awards

Pitsenbarger Awards provide a one-time grant of $500 to selected top active duty, Guard and Reserve USAF enlisted personnel graduating from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree. The grants coincide with the CCAF graduation ceremonies held each spring and fall. Additional information and application may be found at http://www.aef.org/aid/pit.asp.

Chapter Supports Visions of Exploration Program

San Diego Air Force Association Chapter 118 voted to support four elementary/middle schools and one High School with the Visions of Exploration Program. The Visions for elementary/middle schools is an eighteen week program designed to be incorporated into the educational curriculum of fourth, fifth and sixth graders. The High School Visions Program is a twenty-eight week program. It uses the USA Today Newspaper, special teacher’s guides, weekly Classline guides for teachers that relate the newspaper to aerospace and science subjects, and a copy of the Air Force Magazine Space Almanac. The educational materials are provided and distributed by USA Today for AEF and AFA.

The 2007-2008 schools that have been identified for Chapter 118 support are:

The Chapter looks forward to providing support to these institutions and other schools that may need aerospace information.

Scholarship Opportunities: A Full 4-Year Online Degree Program Scholarship
The following is excerpted from the AFA site:

Through AFA's affiliation with Grantham University, AFA is pleased to provide a Full 4-Year Online Degree Scholarship to an Active Duty Dependent, an AFA Member, or a dependent of an AFA Member. One (1) full four-year scholarship, bearing a total value of approximately $28,000, to Grantham University, also includes required books and software. To be eligible, candidates must have a high school diploma or GED.

Important Note to Active Duty: If you're currently active duty, Grantham already provides scholarships to cover what your military tuition assistance doesn't cover. Therefore, this AFA scholarship is not needed. Contact Grantham directly on 1-800-955-2527.

Objective:

The AFA/Grantham University Online Degree Scholarship is designed to encourage active duty dependents and AFA Members and their dependents, to continue their education, in spite of busy, demanding schedules.

Requirements/Evaluation Criteria, the applicant must meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

In a two page, double-spaced essay, describe your academic and career goals and explain why you are interested in pursuing your degree via an online degree program. Explain why this is the right time in your life and why you would be committed to continuing your education to get a degree.

Provide two letters of recommendation. These should be character references with descriptions of your performance and your potential as a student.

Provide proof of GED completion or high school transcripts (or college transcripts if applicable). Note: College transcript(s) and proof of undergraduate degree are required for the graduate programs.

You will be required to provide us with information requested on a feedback form six months after the scholarship is awarded.

Scholarship Allocation

Applications will be accepted between April 1 and June 15. Scholarship will be awarded in July.

Additional information and scholarship application form can be obtained at:http://www.afa.org/aboutus/memben/grantham.asp

Spouse Scholarship Guidelines
  *The online application will be available January 2008*

Objective:

The Air Force Spouse Scholarship program is designed to encourage Air Force spouses worldwide to pursue associate/bachelor undergraduate or graduate/postgraduate degrees.

Requirements:

(Complete set of requirements can be found at: http://www.afa.org/aef/aid/spouse.asp)

The applicant must be a spouse of Air Force Active Duty, Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve to be eligible. Spouses who are themselves Air Force members, or in ROTC, are not eligible.

Include an original or copy of your most recent college/university transcript or a report

Scholarship Allocation: Scholarships are awarded in June.

$2,500 Stipend.  

Scholarships may be used to pay for any reasonable cost related to pursuing a degree. This would include tuition, books, and any remaining money can be used to pay for either transportation or childcare costs.

Guidelines

Applicants who have received the Spouse Scholarship in the past are not eligible.

This scholarship is open for all academic programs.

Undergraduate students must be enrolled with a minimum of 6 credit hours when the scholarship is awarded in June. Graduate and post-graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 credit hours.

For other scholarship opportunities please check: http://www.afa.org/aef/aid/scholars.asp

Call for Support - Volunteer Speaker List

In my contact with various schools in the San Diego area I have been asked about speakers to provide some historical background/perspective about World War II, The Korean Conflict, and Vietnam. There are probably a number of sub topics for these areas such as history of the Air Force (various years), Airlift Operations, tactical operations, or other areas of expertise or experience that chapter AFA members may have.

We would like to develop a list of speakers and topics that would be a source to respond to requests. The list would not commit an individual to a presentation. Topics and times would be coordinated by the speaker and the school or teacher. AFA members or their friends who would like to participate in this program should send their name, phone or email address and topic(s) to the chapter VP for Aerospace Education at gene_alfaro@cox.net.

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