The Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq
Conflicts Scholarship Program is designed to provide
financial assistance to United States armed forces personnel
who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, and their
sons, daughters, or spouses who are current high school
seniors, and full-time and part-time, degree-seeking
undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible accredited
Maryland postsecondary institution.
Applicants for the scholarship must
submit the Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts
Scholarship application, by March 1, online at
https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us (application
instructions below), with all required documentation,
which
includes:
-
A Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
filed by March 1 each
year;
-
If a son or
daughter of a veteran, a birth certificate showing the
names of both parents;
-
If a spouse of a
veteran, a marriage certificate; Documentation of
military orders:
-
United States Armed Forces - Active
Duty:
copy of current official military orders: documentation
of service in Afghanistan/Iraq
-
United States Armed
Forces - Veteran: copy of Certificate of Release or
Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214)
-
United States Armed Forces - Reserve Component: copy
of Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
(DD-214)
-
Maryland National
Guard: copy of
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
(DD-214)
Note:
DD214 form must include dates served and where served
(Afghanistan/Iraq or contiguous waters or air space). If
information is not on DD214, other official documentation
must be provided with dates and places as listed above.
Complete and file the Veterans of the Afghanistan and
Iraq Conflicts Scholarship application (instructions below) and a
Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
Late applications will be accepted, but will be placed on a
waiting list for funds.
All undergraduate majors are eligible.
Uniformed Services Members of the United States who served
in Afghanistan, or contiguous air space as defined in
federal regulations, on or after October 24, 2001, and
before a terminal date to be prescribed by the United States
Secretary of Defense; or in Iraq, or contiguous waters or
air space as defined in federal regulations, on or after
March 19, 2003, and before a terminal date to be prescribed
by the United States Secretary of Defense, may apply for a
scholarship if they are:
-
A veteran who
served at least 60 days in the Afghanistan or Iraq
Conflicts, as defined above;
-
An active duty
member of the Armed Forces who served at least 60 days
in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, as defined above;
-
A member of a
reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United
States or the Maryland National Guard who was activated
as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and
served at least 60 days, as defined above; or
-
a son, daughter,
or spouse of:
-
a veteran or
active duty member of the Armed Forces who is
serving or has served in the Afghanistan or Iraq
Conflicts at least 60 days, as defined above; or
-
a member of a
reserve component of the Armed Forces or Maryland
National Guard who was activated as a result of the
Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and served at least 60
days, as defined above.
Applicants must be residents of Maryland, must be accepted
for admission or enrolled in a regular undergraduate program
at an eligible Maryland institution, or be accepted for
admission or enrolled in a 2-year terminal certificate
program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer
credit for an accredited baccalaureate program at an
eligible Maryland institution. Students must be enrolled as
either a full-time (12+ credits per semester) or
part-time (6-11 credits per semester) undergraduate student.
Note: Residents of Maryland include active members of the
United States Armed Forces, their spouses and their
dependent children who are stationed in the State of
Maryland or whose home of residency is Maryland.
The award amount is 50% of the annual tuition and mandatory fees
and room & board of a resident undergraduate at the four-year public
institution of higher education within the University System
of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland
University College and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore, with the highest annual expenses for a full-time
resident undergraduate. The award amount may not exceed
$10,280 for the 2012-2013 academic year and may not reflect
subsequent tuition and fee increases made throughout the
academic year.
Award amounts
are tentative and may be adjusted based on verification of Veterans Educational Benefits received under
Chapter 33/Post 9/11 GI Bill.
NOTE: Awards are subject to the availability
of funds.
Scholarships awarded under this program shall supplement any
federal education benefits for which a recipient qualifies
as a result of an individual's military service or status as
a dependent of a member of the armed forces or of a veteran
of the armed forces. The funds may be used at any eligible
Maryland institution to pay for educational expenses
including tuition and mandatory fees, and room and board.
The total dollar amount of all State awards, may not exceed
your cost of attendance as determined by your school's
financial aid office or $19,000, whichever is less.
Funds may not be available to award all eligible students.
The total amount of financial assistance that you receive,
including State aid and Veteran's Educational Benefits, may
not exceed your cost of attendance, as determined by your
institution.
Awards are made annually, with renewal applicants given
first priority.
Eligible applicants who are veterans shall be given priority
over dependent children or spouses. Within priority groups,
applicants will be ranked according to application complete
date. Eligible applicants who receive the Veterans
of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship
will be notified of the
award in writing. In order to accept an award, a recipient
must provide the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA)
with
a written acceptance of the award. OSFA may not award
an initial scholarship to an eligible applicant after June
30, 2016. OSFA may renew a scholarship after June 30,
2016,
if the individual received an initial scholarship before
that date.
Awards may be held for up to five years of full-time (12+
credits per semester) or eight years of part-time (6-11
credits per semester) attendance
if the recipient
files a FAFSA by March 1 each year; continues to be a Maryland resident; is enrolled on at least
a part-time basis (6-11 credits per semester) in an eligible
program at a Maryland postsecondary institution;
maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5
on a 4.0 scale; and,
continues to meet all other eligibility requirements.
Audited courses cannot be used to reach the minimum credit
hours required for full-time or part-time status.
To
apply for the
2013-2014
academic year, please go to: https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us
You will be required to create a user id and password.
You will then be sent an email with an activation link.
You MUST activate your account prior to logging in to your
account. You will then be able to apply
online for programs, as well as check the status of your
application.
If you are unable to apply online please contact our office
for a paper application.
Download
the 2012-2013 VAIC Conditions of Award (PDF)
Download
the 2012-2013 VAIC Conditions of Award Renewal (PDF)
Return
to Program Description page
November 14, 2011,
our new address is 6
N. Liberty St., Baltimore, MD 21201 | Phone: (410)
767-3301 | Toll Free: (800) 974-0203
