Kansas American Legion Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by American Legion Department of Kansas
INTRODUCTION
Below are summaries of scholarship opportunities administered through The Kansas American Legion and related organizations. Each listing preserves the original award amounts, eligibility criteria, and special conditions.
HUGH A. SMITH SCHOLARSHIP
- Award: $500 grant.
- Eligible applicants: Kansas high school seniors and college freshmen or sophomores who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled in, or plan to enroll in, an approved junior college, college, university, or trade school in Kansas.
- Relationship requirement: Applicant must be the son or daughter of a veteran who has been a member of the Kansas American Legion and/or Legion Auxiliary for the prior three years. Sons or daughters of deceased members are also eligible if the parent’s dues were current at the time of death.
- Academic requirement: Applicant must be an average or better student and submit a high school transcript showing GPA.
TED AND NORA ANDERSON SCHOLARSHIPS
- Awards: Four scholarships of $500 each, awarded annually.
- Eligible applicants: Children of members of The American Legion or the Legion Auxiliary.
- Selection: Recipients are chosen by the Department Oratorical and Scholarship Committee based on scholastic record, financial need, field of study, and similar factors.
ALBERT M. LAPPIN SCHOLARSHIP
- Award: $1,000 grant.
- Eligible applicants: Kansas high school seniors or college freshmen or sophomores.
- Relationship requirement: Applicant must be the son or daughter of a veteran who has been a member of The Kansas American Legion or its Auxiliary for the past three years. Sons or daughters of deceased members are eligible if the parent’s dues were paid up at the time of death.
AMERICAN LEGION MUSIC COMMITTEE SCHOLARSHIP
- Award: $1,000 annually.
- Eligible applicants: Kansas high school students who have shown notable achievement in music and/or intend to major or minor in music at an approved Kansas junior college, college, or university.
- Official name: American Legion Music Committee Scholarship.
ROSEDALE POST 346 SCHOLARSHIPS
- Awards: Two scholarships of $1,500 each.
- Eligible applicants: Kansas high school seniors or college freshmen or sophomores.
- Relationship requirement: Applicant must be the son or daughter of a veteran who has been a member of The Kansas American Legion or its Auxiliary for the past three years. Sons or daughters of deceased members are eligible if the parent’s dues were paid up at the time of death.
CHARLES W. & ANNETTE HILL SCHOLARSHIP
- Award: $1,000 grant.
- Eligible applicants: Kansas high school seniors or college freshmen or sophomores.
- Relationship requirement: Applicant must be a descendant of a veteran who has been a member of The Kansas American Legion for the past three years. Descendants of deceased members are eligible if the veteran’s dues were paid up at the time of death.
SCOUTING SCHOLARSHIP
- Background: The Kansas American Legion sponsors roughly 55 Scout troops and Explorer posts, supporting more than 835 scouts with expenditures exceeding $10,540. Many additional scouts receive support indirectly through Legion leadership and programs.
- National award: The American Legion Life Insurance Trust Fund provides a $10,000 National Scholarship to the Eagle Scout selected as “The American Legion Scout of the Year” by the National Americanism Commission at the annual National Spring Meetings. In addition, three runner-up scholarships of $2,500 each have been added.
- Department award: The Department of Kansas awards a $500 scholarship to the Kansas Scout of the Year.
- Use of funds: Scholarship funds may be applied to attendance at any state-accredited post‑secondary institution within the continental United States. A student from a U.S. possession may choose a school in that possession or in the continental U.S.
SHOOTING SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP
- Award: $500 grant.
- Eligible applicants: Kansas high school seniors or college freshmen who have participated in American Legion Shooting Sports programs at the State and Regional levels.
- Academic requirement: Applicant must be an average or better student.
U.S. UDIE GRANT SCHOLARSHIP
- Purpose: To provide financial support for the education of needy and worthy children and grandchildren of Kansas Legionnaires.
- Applicant requirement: Applicants must be current three‑year members of the Sons of The American Legion within the Detachment of Kansas.
JAY B. THIELEN SCHOLARSHIP
- Purpose: To assist financially in the education of needy and worthy children and grandchildren of members of the Sons of The American Legion in the Detachment of Kansas.
- Awards: Five scholarships of $500 each are presented annually.
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