An already successful AAPG Foundation program is about to expand both its reach and impact in the lives of its recipients.
The AAPG Foundation’s Deana and Paul Strunk Military Veterans Scholarship Program, created in 2015 to promote the advancement of student military veterans who are enrolled in educational geoscience programs at the undergraduate level, quickly became one of the Foundation’s higher-profile funds.
And now, in making a good program even better, the AAPG Foundation trustees have approved changes to the scholarship’s funding and candidate eligibility requirements.
The amount of scholarship awards offered will now be up to $5,000 per year for full-time students (formerly $4,000) and up to $2,500 per year for part-time students (formerly $2,000).
Eligibility requirements originally included military service members in active, reserve, National Guard and veteran status – but now, updated applicant eligibility includes military dependents (spouses and children) for the following categories:
- Deceased
- Disabled
- Active
- Veteran
Dependents are now eligible to apply for scholarships when entering a post-secondary undergraduate program in the field of geoscience at a four-year accredited college or university.
Extending eligibility to military family members aligns with other programs, such as the GI Bill. Foundation trustees agreed with extending the fund’s reach, adding that while military spouses and children do not serve formally, the sacrifices military families face also are considered service to their country.
The MVSP promotes education and career opportunities to military veterans and aids in their transition to educational and civilian technical professions in the geosciences.
Since its inception in 2015, the MVSP has awarded $100,000 in scholarships to 41 military veterans enrolled in undergraduate geoscience programs – and with the increased scholarship funding and expanded candidate eligibility, more veterans and military families will have the opportunity to enter geoscience professions.
This year’s AAPG Foundation’s Deana and Paul Strunk Military Veterans Scholarship Program will begin accepting applications on March 31 and will close May 15. To learn more about the MVSP application process, visit the Foundation website at http://aapg.to/fdnmvsp.
For questions, email a programs coordinator at