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Unified Arizona Veterans OI #5: Veterans Scholarship Program – 2025!

Offering Honorably Discharged U.S. Military Veterans, and their immediate families, who are Arizona residents, higher learning scholarships. These merit based scholarships focus on the contributions to community and service by the applicant.

DEADLINE: Applications due February 23rd, 2025

In support of its mission, the UAV established, manages, maintains and operates scholarship programs to assist deserving HONORABLY DISCHARGED veterans of the U.S. military, residing in Arizona, including honorably discharged veterans of the Arizona Reserve and Arizona National Guard components. Since 2016, we have expanded our program by adding two subprograms focusing on Native American veterans and immediate family members of 100% disabled and killed in action (KIA) veterans. We named the latter subprogram the Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa Scholarship in honor of the first Native American Female killed in action on foreign soil. The first two recipients of this scholarship were her two children, Brandon Whiterock (attending NAU) and Carla Piestewa (attending GCU).

These scholarships, worth up to $5,000, are issued to THREE individual Arizona residents, who are either an:

  • Honorably discharged U.S. Military Veteran.   (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, Arizona National Guard/Reserve.)  OR,
  • Who are determined by the VA to have a 100% service-connected disability rating. OR,
  • Immediate family member (example: un-remarried spouse, child, grandchild) of either an honorably discharged U.S. Military Veteran, or Killed in Action (KIA) or in an Act of Terror (AOT) military sponsor.   (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, Arizona National Guard/Reserve military sponsor.)
  • Applicants must be a lawful U.S. permanent resident, living in Arizona, pursuing and dedicating a deep commitment to their education beyond the high school level.

UAV Scholarships are a one-time award, and are not renewable. Once an applicant has been awarded a UAV scholarship, that applicant is not eligible for further awards.

Current UAV Scholarship Categories: 2025

  1.  Service and Support Scholarship – For an honorably discharged U.S. Military Veteran (service) and/or an immediate family member (support) of a service member, residing anywhere in the state of Arizona.
  2.  Native American Veteran Scholarship – For an honorably discharged U.S. Military Native American Veteran, or an immediate family member of a U.S. Military Native American Veteran, residing anywhere within the state of Arizona, or on any reservation where any portion of which is situated wholly or partially, in the state of Arizona.
  3.  Lori Piestewa Memorial Scholarship – For an honorably discharged, U.S. Military Veteran, or immediate family member. (Including honorable discharged U.S. Military Veteran, KIA or AOT service member.) Applicant must reside in Arizona.

All applicants for all UAV Scholarships must meet UAV Scholarship Arizona Residency Criteria.

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

  • All UAV Scholarship Applications are to be completed through the UAV Online Scholarship Application Form. To access the form, a google email address is required. If that is not possible, please contact scholarships@azuav.org
  • All completed applications must be submitted by the 23rd of February 2025. Be sure to include ALL necessary documents (listed on the application form) by that date (postmarked).
    Completed documents (personal essay/letter of recommendation/photo) may be emailed to: scholarships@azuav.org if you are concerned with sending them in this form, except for proof of service and identification documents (copies, not originals) (The list of documents includes, but is not limited to, Honorable Discharge documents, marriage documents, adoption certificates, transcripts, copies of Arizona drivers’ license or state issued I.D. card, library card, tribal identification, and residency documents) which must be mailed via U.S. Post Office to:  Scholarship Committee P. O. Box 34338, Phoenix, AZ 85067. 
  • Applicants will be contacted with the decision by March 25th, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY

  • To qualify, applicants must be an honorably discharged U.S. Military Veteran – verification required.
    – Or be an immediate family member of a U.S. Military veteran. (Example: child, grandchild, ect.) – verification of military sponsor’s service required.
    – Or be an un-remarried spouse of either a U.S. Military Veteran, or Killed in Action or Act of Terror service member. – spouses service verification and marriage license required.
    – For the Native American U.S. Military Veteran scholarship, proof of heritage may be required.
  • Be a permanent U.S. Resident – verification required.
  • Reside in the state of Arizona and will continue to reside in Arizona for the next 6 months* minimum. – Verifiable Arizona address required.
  • If chosen as a recipient, be available to attend the Patriotic Awards Luncheon May 9th, 2025, at the Double Tree by Hilton, in Mesa. Attendance to the luncheon is a requirement if applicant is selected to receive a scholarship. Attendance to the PAL event will be provided for the three chosen recipients and one companion each. Please notify us if there are excessive travel expenses involved, so that we can determine if assistance is appropriate on a case-by-case basis. Understand that beyond entry to the luncheon, compensation is not guaranteed, and arrangements should be made by the applicant.
  • Have proof of acceptance into higher education, beyond high school.
  • Must have the goal of a completion certificate, license, degree, or diploma
  • Have made a direct impact on applicant’s community. Have a dedication to serving applicant’s community. (Example: Reading to the blind, helping an elderly or disabled neighbor or relative on a regular basis, organizing, volunteer services, giving applicant’s time to someone in need, etc.)
  • Applicant must understand that even if they qualify for all three scholarships, only one scholarship will be awarded to each individual recipient, and these are one-time-only scholarships.
  • Scholarships are merit based and will be up to the scholarship committee. Applying for a scholarship does not guarantee one will be awarded.
  • There is a maximum of ONE scholarship per individual total, recipients may not apply again.
  • All completed applications must be submitted by the 23rd of February 2025. Be sure to include ALL necessary documents by that date (postmarked).
    Completed documents (personal essay/letter of recommendation/photo) may be emailed to: scholarships@azuav.org if you are concerned with sending them in this form, except for proof of service and identification documents (copies, not originals) which must be mailed via U.S. Post Office to:  Scholarship Committee P. O. Box 34338, Phoenix, AZ 85067.* Contact scholarships@azuav.org if, after becoming a recipient of one a U.A.V Scholarship, an unforeseen situation arrives where continued residency is not possible, let us know as soon as possible.

 

CRITERIA: The scholarship applicant must:

  1. All applicants for all UAV Scholarships must meet UAV Scholarship Arizona Residency Criteria. Applicants must submit proof of permanent residency in Arizona, e.g., AZ Driver’s License, Voter Registration card, etc.
  2. Complete and submit the 2025 UAV Scholarship Application form by the 23rd of February 2025, 2400 MST.
  3. Must be participating in a program leading to a Baccalaureate or Post Graduate Degree, certification in the building or other skilled trades, and physically or virtually attending an institution of higher learning, physically located within the State of Arizona.The institution must be eligible to receive GI Bill funds through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  4. Have a planned graduation or completion of education, at least 6 months after receiving a UAV scholarship. Planned graduation date must be submitted and confirmed.
  5. If Requested By Scholarship Committee: Applicants must submit an income/expense disclosure form and/or Applicants Financial Needs Assessment form, that we will send, for further consideration.
  6. Submit a letter of recommendation from one of your teachers, counselor, or volunteer coordinator from your current, or most recently graduated school, or program.
  7. Submit a (up to) 500-word essay detailing how receiving this scholarship will help establish your future. Example topics: What is your career path and what are the steps you are taking to ensure success? What have you done to benefit your community, and how will your career path assist you in further benefiting your community? What obstacles have you had to traverse and how will your career path help your future? How will this scholarship directly impact your education?
  8. Applicant will submit at least one of the following:
  9. Separated military applicants must have received an “Honorable” discharge from service. Copies of your DD-214, NGB-22, or separation notice is required for verification.
  10. If applicant is the un-remarried spouse, or immediate family member (example: dependent child, grandchild, etc.) of an honorably discharged U.S. Military Veteran, KIA or AOT service member, submit proof of relationship by a copy of your birth* (or marriage) certificate and documentation of service by the military sponsor.
    *If there are special circumstances (stepchild, adoption, etc.), please contact us at: scholarships@azuav.org or communications@azuav.org
  11. A current portrait style color photograph suitable for publication in an event program, social media, and on the UAV website, and newsletter.
  12. Application form will consist of the signed (digital signature) application, copy of applicant’s DD-214 or NGB-22 (documents will not be retained by the UAV, send only copies, do not send originals, do not expect them returned), applicant’s personal essay, letter of recommendation, and proof of Arizona residency. If family member, proof of relation to the U.S. Military Veteran, KIA or AOT. All components of the documents must be easily legible. These documents must be sent via US Mail to the UAV at the following address:
  • UAV Scholarship Committee
  • P. O. Box 34338
  • Phoenix, AZ 85067

 

The UAV Scholarship Committee shall receive and evaluate UAV scholarship applications, and submit their selections to the UAV board. Applications will be evaluated and a decision will be made by March 25th, 2025 when applicants will be notified.

Any current or immediate past UAV staff, Directors, Officers, or Board Members, or their immediate families, are not eligible for application or consideration for any UAV scholarships.

The UAV missions are defined in its bylaws. Scholarship grants are included in the defined missions in Article II Section 1 as follows:

  • “UAV Scholarship Programs is for honorably discharged U.S. Military Veterans (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, Arizona National Guard/Reserve), and extends to un-remarried spouse, child, and grandchild of honorably discharged Veterans of the U.S. Military, including Arizona Reserve and Arizona National Guard components, veterans killed in the line of duty, Killed In Action (KIA) or Killed in an Act of Terrorism (AOT), OR who are determined by the VA to have a 100% service-connected disability rating.”
  • For purposes of UAV Native American scholarship awards, this award is “eligible to any honorably discharged, or who are determined by the VA to have a 100% service-connected disability rating, U.S. Military Native American Veteran. Or an immediate family member of an honorably discharged U.S. Military Native American Veteran, or whose military sponsor is determined by the VA to have a 100% service-connected disability rating, or whose military sponsor is Killed In Action (KIA) or Killed in an Act of Terrorism (AOT). Applicants must be residing anywhere within the state of Arizona, or on any reservation where any portion of which is situated wholly or partially, in the state of Arizona.”

Questions:  scholarships@azuav.org