It’s just about the halfway point for the school year, and students who are finalizing their postsecondary education plans may be starting to wonder how they’re going to pay for it all.
College isn’t cheap, and the hefty price tag that accompanies accredited colleges and trade schools can be overwhelming for some students. According to an article released earlier this year by U.S. News and World Report, the cost of college tuition has risen between 32% and 45% over the past 20 years, even when adjusted for inflation.
But help is available. Programs like DAV Scholarships are a great way for students to help offset costs while providing the opportunity to give back to veterans.
Each year, DAV awards $110,000 in scholarships (with a top award of $30,000) to help fund higher education for DAV volunteers 21 and younger, as long as they attain a minimum of 100 lifetime volunteer hours through DAV. They can do this either through our Local Volunteer Assistance Program or with the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service Program.
I’ve been facilitating the DAV Scholarships program for a number of years, and one thing stands out to me more than the money we award.
What we hear from many recipients is that while the money significantly helps them pursue their education goals, what has been more beneficial is how volunteering for veterans has changed the trajectory of their lives.
Just the other day, Jacob Weber, our 2023 top awardee, sent us photos of the candy drive and Agent Orange awareness outreach he continues to do every year for veterans—enlisting the help of his fellow Michigan State Spartan classmates and students at a local elementary school. It’s just one of many initiatives he leads throughout the year. Volunteering is part of who he is and has inspired him to look into working for the VA in supply chain logistics when he graduates.
For Amelia Marcum, our 2024 top honoree and a senior at Stanford University in California, her volunteer work has led her to wanting a career in public service advocating for the rights and resources of marginalized communities—including the Native Americans from whom she descends.
Their stories are just two examples of the many I’ve heard about how volunteering for veterans has shaped students’ futures.
So far, we’ve received 15 applications for the 10 scholarships we offer.
I’d love to see more students apply for these opportunities, if for nothing more than getting to know a population that has given so much to this country and is so appreciative for those who give back—our ill and injured veterans. Volunteering will pay these students back in more ways than money ever could.
To spread the message, we need the help of our department and chapter leaders and members. Tell students you know about our scholarships. Let them know they can find all of the requirements and details at davscholarships.org. Introduce them to Voluntary Service representatives at your local VA medical centers. Invite them to help with your DAV Community Impact Day events or other veteran volunteer activities you’ve got planned. And have conversations with VA staff members who directly interact with youth volunteers to let them know about these scholarship opportunities.
We’re accepting 2025 scholarship applications through Feb. 28, 2025. After that deadline, any applications submitted will be held for next year.
Anyone with questions can reach out to us at [email protected] or 888-480-6786.
Contact your local DAV office. They will help you file a claim and stick with you all through the process, because no veteran should have to go at it alone.
Find Your Local DAV Office
The reasons are as individual as our members. Some join for the fellowship at our more than 1,200 local chapters. Some for the inspiring national events. Others for opportunities to serve their fellow veterans and their families. And many join to continue the fight to support the rights and benefits of all veterans. DAV understands the needs of veterans because we are veterans—1 million strong. We invite you to join our cause.
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