scholarship PROGRAMS
Patriot Foundation supports the educational goals of military and veteran families through scholarships.
Since its inception in 2003, Patriot Foundation has utilized donations from corporate partners, private foundations, and individual donors to fund these scholarships to our military communities throughout the country. In 2020, Patriot Foundation and the North Carolina Legislature entered into a public/private partnership. It was one of the first of its kind. The allocations from the State allow Patriot Foundation to increase scholarship support of North Carolina military families attending North Carolina post-secondary institutions.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
Patriot Foundation currently administers two scholarship programs using NC state and federal funds.
The Recovery Scholarship Program is funded through the American Rescue Plan with the goal of easing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a need-based scholarship that includes specific household income requirements. This federal program allocated monies to North Carolina, which in turn granted funds to Patriot Foundation. This program will conclude in December 2026 with Spring 2027 awards.
Recovery Scholarships are available to the children and spouses of fallen or disabled veterans, children of injured active-duty service members, as well as qualifying disabled veterans. Applicants must be NC residents accepted to or attending NC post-secondary institutions. Disabled veterans must have a VA disability rating of at least 50%. Household income must be less than 350% of the federal poverty level. Federal poverty guidelines can be found HERE. To view the scholarship program’s eligibility requirements and learn more about the application process, see below.
Recovery Scholarship Amount: Up to $5,000 per semester
Funds may be used to cover up to the cost of attendance at a school that is any of the following:
- A constituent institution of The University of North Carolina.
- A community college under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Community Colleges.
- A junior college, senior college, or university that meets all the following requirements:
- Is operated and governed by private interests not under the control of the federal government, the State, or any local government.
- Has a main permanent campus, as defined in G.S. 116-280(4), located within the State of North Carolina.
- Does not operate for profit.
- The curriculum is primarily directed toward the awarding of associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees.
- Meets one of the following requirements:
- Is a private educational institution as defined in G.S. 143B-1224.
- Is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education or training offered by institutions of higher education.
- A private vocational institution, including Federal Aviation Administration certificated aviation training programs.
Applicants must have qualifying expenses not met by other grants, stipends, or scholarships.
The Star Scholarship program is funded annually through the NC Legislature and has the same eligibility criteria as the Recovery Program, except it does not have specific household income requirements.
Star Scholarships are available to the children and spouses of fallen or disabled veterans, children of injured active-duty service members, as well as qualifying disabled veterans. Applicants must be NC residents accepted to or attending NC post-secondary institutions. Disabled veterans must have a VA disability rating of at least 50%. To view the scholarship program’s eligibility requirements and learn more about the application process, see below.
Star Scholarship Amount: Up to $3,250.00 per semester.
Funds may be used to cover up to the cost of attendance at a school that is any of the following:
- A constituent institution of The University of North Carolina.
- A community college under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Community Colleges.
- A junior college, senior college, or university that meets all the following requirements:
- Is operated and governed by private interests not under the control of the federal government, the State, or any local government.
- Has a main permanent campus, as defined in G.S. 116-280(4), located within the State of North Carolina.
- Does not operate for profit.
- The curriculum is primarily directed toward the awarding of associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees.
- Meets one of the following requirements:
- Is a private educational institution as defined in G.S. 143B-1224.
- Is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education or training offered by institutions of higher education.
- A private vocational institution, including Federal Aviation Administration certificated aviation training programs.
Applicants must have qualifying expenses not met by other grants, stipends, or scholarships.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Applicants will use the single application provided below to apply for consideration for the two scholarships. The eligibility of the applicant will determine the scholarship program for which the applicant will be considered.
Applications are processed using the secure and trusted Submittable platform, so applicants’ sensitive information remains safe and confidential.
Application Deadlines
Spring 2024 Application Cycle | September 1st – October 31st
Questions: Contact the Scholarship Administrator at scholarships@patriotfoundation.org.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Select your relationship to the service member or veteran below to view the specific eligibility requirements.
CHILD
SPOUSE
VETERAN
- Attending or accepted to NC post-secondary school
- Resident of NC, or parent is active-duty permanently stationed in NC
- Registered for Selective Service, if applicable
- Sponsoring service member meets one of the following residency criteria:
- Current resident of NC
- Was a resident of NC at the time of entrance into service
- Was permanently stationed in NC at the time of death
- Active duty permanently stationed in NC
- Sponsoring service member meets following service criteria:
- Killed in the line of duty
- Died from service connected injury or illness
- Veteran living with a disability rating of 50% or greater
- Active-duty service member incurred traumatic wounds or illness
- Total household income less than 350% of the federal poverty level excluding Veteran Disability payments and related compensation (for Recovery Program only)
- Attending or accepted to NC post-secondary school
- Resident of NC
- Registered for Selective Service, if applicable
- Sponsoring service member meets one of the following residency criteria:
- Resident of NC
- Was a resident of NC at the time of entrance into service
- Was permanently stationed in NC at the time of death
- Sponsoring service member meets following service criteria:
- Killed in the line of duty
- Died from service-connected injury or illness
- Veteran living with a disability rating of 50% or greater
- Total household income less than 350% of the federal poverty level excluding Veteran Disability payments and related compensation (for Recovery Program only)
Star And Recovery Program Requirements:
- Attending or accepted to NC post-secondary school
- Resident of NC
- Veteran disability rating of 50% or greater
Recovery Program Requirements In Addition To Above:
- Total household income less than 350% of the federal poverty level excluding Veteran Disability payments and related compensation
IMPACT
Joanna
“I never got the chance to know my father. My father, CW3 Christopher Michael Allgaier, was killed in action on May 30, 2007 when I was only three years old. After the tragedy, my family remained in Fayetteville, NC, which put us approximately 30 minutes away from Fort Bragg. Due to this close proximity to such a prominent military base, many of my academic peers were consequently children of Army soldiers just like me, however, the largest difference between them and me lay in the fact that their parent was alive, and mine wasn’t. On the rare occasion I met another child of a fallen soldier, I cherished the shared connection, but these instances of comradery were few and far between
compared to the number of times I’ve been made to feel isolated in my status at school. Continuously witnessing soldier homecomings, attending the mandatory Veterans Day assemblies, and being singled out as an example of the tragedies of war within my social studies lesson slowly manifested a feeling of total loneliness. None of my classmates shared my experience, and I simply existed as a cautionary tale of what could happen to my classmates, but their fear was my reality. After years and years of wallowing in my own pity, it took me longer than I care to admit to realize that I am definitely not alone, and scholarships like that of Patriot Foundation Scholarship prove just that.
To me, this scholarship means that my family, and families like us, aren’t alone. After an entire lifetime of living under a single parent with the impression that none of my friends understood my struggle, I have now been presented with a multitude of opportunities and connections to those who know exactly what it’s like to be in my shoes and seek to help me. Such an influx of support generates a plethora of gratitude and comfort from my family as I venture further into my academic future through admission to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. My progress would not be possible without not only the financial support, but also the communal support that comes with opportunities like that of this scholarship. I’m not alone, and I never truly was, thanks to scholarships such as that of the Patriot Foundation Scholarship.”
REACH
NC Patriot Star Family Scholarship Programs awards have supported individuals from
these 56 North Carolina counties shown in dark blue.
NC Patriot Star Family Scholarship Programs awards have supported individuals at 42 higher education institutions in North Carolina.
- Appalachian State University
- Barton College
- Campbell University
- Cape Fear Community College
- Carteret Community College
- Central Carolina Community College
- Coastal Carolina Community College
- Craven Community College
- Davidson County Community College
- Duke University
- East Carolina University
- Elizabeth City State University
- Elon University
- Fayetteville State University
- Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Guilford Technical Community College
- Haywood Community College
- High Point University
- Hood Theological Seminary
- Lees-McRae College
- Louisburg College
- Manna University
- Meredith College
- Methodist University
- Mitchell Community College
- Montgomery Community College
- NC A&T State University
- NC Central University
- NC State University
- NC Wesleyan University
- Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
- Sandhills Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- St. Andrews University
- UNC Chapel Hill
- UNC Charlotte
- UNC Greensboro
- UNC Pembroke
- UNC Wilmington
- University of Mount Olive
- Wake Forest University
- Wake Technical Community College
- Wayne Community College
- Western Carolina University
- Wingate University
- Winston-Salem State University
For questions or more information email us at scholarships@patriotfoundation.org.
