West Michigan Veterans Coalition

2024 John Irwin Scholarship

Application Period: May 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024 (The PDF version will be available May 8, 2024)

Scholarship Description

The West Michigan Veterans Coalition Armed Forces Dependent Scholarship is available to those that have served or are serving in the US Armed Forces, their Spouses and Dependent Children up to age 26 of Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves, Retired and honorable discharged members of the United States Armed Forces who are currently attending or have been accepted into either a College, University or Trade School. The scholarship may be used to support school expenses such as books, tuition, transportation, housing, etc.

Eligibility

• Must be a resident of or physically attending a school in one of the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Lake, Kent, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, or Ottawa County.
• Service Member must be currently serving, retired or honorably discharged Member of the United States Military including those that have served in the National Guard or Reserves.
• Must be a spouse or dependent child of the service member and either currently attending or have been accepted to a college, university, or trade school. Dependents may be a high school senior who had been accept into a college, university, or trade school.
• Currently enrolled students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (or higher) on a 4.0 scale orbe able to show hours toward certification of a skilled trade.

Required Documents

• Completed Application
• Documentation of Military Service for Service Member (DD214, NGB 22, Letter of Discharge, or current orders) with social security number blacked out.
• Proof of residence or letter from school stating you are attending for the 24-25 school year. If the school has multiple sites, the letter must state which site you are attending.
• Official copy of his/her most current transcript with cumulative grade point average or credit hours toward certification of skilled trade
• Three (3)  letters of recommendation (excluding family members), must be signed and dated (within application period) by the writers
• Provide a 1000- 1500 word essay explaining the biggest challenge you have encountered, what you did to overcome that challenge, and how did it change your perspective.

TO APPLY click on the link below or mail completed application to West Michigan Veterans Coalition: C/O Deb Unseld, PO Box 355, Hudsonville, MI 49426. The applications will then be reviewed by a committee and 2 scholarships will be awarded ONE (1) to a Service Member/Veteran and ONE (1) to a Spouse/Dependent based on eligibility requirements and application criteria. Those awarded the John Irwin Scholarship will not be allowed to apply in the future.