2013 ThanksUSA Scholarship Program

Kaplan University

Kaplan University is proud to offer a full undergraduate scholarship through ThanksUSA for an eligible military spouse. In addition, Educational Support Scholarships, which provide for reduced tuition of up to 55 percent, are also available to eligible military spouses. Click here for complete details including eligibility and other terms and conditions.

License/Certification Program for Spouses

Spouses may use the award again this year for non-degree licensure/certification programs, and this is regardless of whether an undergraduate or graduate degree has already been completed.

On-line Application

We are accepting *only* on-line applications. You may click on this link - https://www.scholarshipamerica.org/thanksusa -- to take you to the landing page at scholarship America, administrators of the program, where you may apply on-line. On-line applicants will receive an electronic acknowledgement when their application has been successfully submitted on-line.

Before doing the final submit, required documents must be scanned in to your computer and then uploaded to the application site. Uploaded documents and photos must be in PDF, PNG or JPG file format.

If you are not able to upload the documents, they may be mailed to Scholarship Management, One Scholarship Way, St. Peter, MN 56082, and postmarked no later than May 15, 2013.

Who is eligible for the scholarships?

Applicants to the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program must:

Be dependent children¹, age 24 and under (as of the 5/15/2013 application deadline), of U.S. military service personnel², or be spouses of U.S. military service personnel² and be current high school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll or students who are already enrolled in a fulltime³ undergraduate course of study at an accredited two-or four-year college or university or vocational-technical school for the 2013-14 academic year and have at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale or its equivalent on their relevant academic record (e.g., high school record for incoming freshmen or postsecondary school record for those already enrolled in a college, university or vocational/technical school). Spouses enrolled part-time⁴ in an undergraduate course of study at an accredited institution are also eligible.

¹Dependent children are defined as natural and legally adopted children or stepchildren living in the service member's household and/or primarily supported by the service member.
²U.S. military personnel are defined as those who have served full-time for at least 180 days since 9/11/01 and all those who have been either killed or wounded in action since 9/11/01. U.S. military personnel are defined as members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard. Members of the military reserves who have been activated to full-time duty and members of the National Guard who have been federalized and who otherwise meet the requirements are both eligible. Retired or discharged service personnel are eligible to apply but must have served 180 days after 9/11/01.
³Full-time study is defined as full-time enrollment (usually considered to be 12 credits per term) for the entire 2013-14 academic year.
⁴Part-time study is defined as enrollment in at least one course totaling 6 credits per term for the entire 2013-14 academic year.

What will be awarded?

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award of $3,000 or up to the program costs, whichever is the lesser amount. Awards are not renewable. Students may reapply in subsequent years if ThanksUSA is offering the same scholarship program.

Awards granted to dependent children are for first-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school and are NOT for non-degree licensure/certificate programs or graduate study. Spouses may use the award for a first-time undergraduate degree at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school. Spouses may also use the award for non-degree licensure/certification programs regardless of whether an undergraduate degree has already been completed. Both dependent children and spouses who have completed a vocational program or associate's degree may use the award for study toward a firsttime bachelor's degree. Master's programs or graduate-level study are not eligible.

Kaplan University is proud to offer a full undergraduate scholarship through ThanksUSA for an eligible military spouse. In addition, 50 Educational Support Scholarships, which provide for reduced tuition of up to 55 percent, are also available to eligible military spouses. Click here for complete details including eligibility and other terms and conditions.

How do I apply?

You may wish to gather the following information that will be needed for the application process:

• U.S. Military Service Personnel's evidence of active duty/retirement and base or unit location information
• Student and U.S. Military Service Personnel email addresses
• List of student’s involvement in school, church, and community activities
• Student’s transcript of grades
• Short statement of student’s educational and career objectives
• Financial information from the family's most recently submitted tax return (See Financial Instructions for help completing this section of the application.)

During the application process, you will be able to leave the site by clicking on the Log Out button located on any application page. To log in, you must enter your username and password. Standard capitalization (Jill Smith, not jill smith or JILL SMITH) must be used when entering data. Once the application is submitted, no further revisions can be made. Carefully review your application before submission. Be sure your application is complete before hitting the Lock and Submit button. After you submit the application, no changes can be made, but you will have access to your scholarship account to view your submitted application and to modify your profile, if needed.

Are any documents required?

Yes! You must also upload the following documents:

• Evidence of active military duty (this may consist of a Statement of Service, a letter or written statement from the Personnel Department or the Commanding Officer, a copy of Duty Orders, a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty or a DD 214). Do not send a copy of your military I.D.
• A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Unofficial and online transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
• A photo of the applicant (no other people should be in the photo - it must be a photo of the applicant alone). Size requirements: minimum 2x3 inches, maximum 4x6 inches.
• If applicable, physician’s documentation of injury sustained in the line of duty or copy of death certificate for killed in the line of duty must be submitted.

If you are not able to upload the documents, they may be mailed to Scholarship Management Services, One Scholarship Way, St. Peter, MN 56082, and postmarked no later than May 15, 2013.

When is the program deadline?

Your application must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. CDT on May 15, 2013. All of the required documents must be uploaded by 11:59 p.m. CDT on May 15, 2013, or mailed to Scholarship Management Services postmarked no later than that date.

How are recipients selected?

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school, church, and community activities, a statement of goals, and unusual personal or family circumstances. Preference will be given to children or spouses of service personnel killed or injured during active duty. Financial need as calculated by Scholarship Management Services must be demonstrated for the student to receive an award.

Recipients are selected by Scholarship Management Services and ThanksUSA. Decisions of the selection committee are final and are not subject to appeal. The program is competitive; not all applicants will be selected as recipients.

How and when will I be notified?

Notification will be sent to non-recipients by email to the email account that is listed in their student profile. Letters will be mailed to those selected to receive an award. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply in subsequent years if ThanksUSA is offering the same scholarship program.

What are a recipient's responsibilities?

• Recipients must complete and submit an online Scholarship Acceptance Form by the indicated deadline Details will be provided in the notification email to recipients.
• Recipients must notify their school about the award and deliver the scholarship check to the school in a timely manner.
• Recipients must notify Scholarship Management Services of any changes in address, school enrollment, or other relevant information and send a complete transcript when requested.

How and when are scholarships paid?

• Payments for students not attending Kaplan University will be in two installments on August 15 and January 15.
• Checks are payable to the school for the student and mailed to the recipient's home address.
• Kaplan University scholarship recipients will receive details concerning their scholarship in their award letter.

Questions? Contact us

Email: thanksusa@scholarshipamerica.org
Call: 1-877-THX-USAS/1-877-849-8727 or 1-507-931-0631